* 


THE 

SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SPEAKER, 

OR 

EXERCISES 

FOR 

ANNIVERSARIES  AND  CELEBRATIONS. 

CONSISTING  OF 

ADDRESSES,  DIALOGUES,  RECITATIONS,  BIBLE  CLASS 
LESSONS,  HYMNS,  ETC. 

ADAPTED  TO  THE  VARIOUS  SUBJECTS  TO  WHICH 

SARBATH  SCHOOL  EFFORTS  ARE  DIRECTED 

BY  J.  KENNADAY,  D.  D. 

FOURTEENTH  EDITION. 

PHILADELPHIA: 

PERKINPINE  &  HIGGINS, 

No.  56  NORTH  FOURTH  STREET. 
1871. 


itered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1847,  T>y 

SORIN  &  BALL, 

Ok  the  Clerk's  office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States, 
in  and  for  the  Eastern  District  of  Pennsylvania.  . 


CONTENTS. 


Preface,   7 

Introductory  Suggestions,  .   9 

PART  I.— ADDRESSES  BY  BOYS. 

Encouragement  to  Sabbath  School  labour,     ......  17 

"  "         "        »  21 

!        !    ;    '    1  26 

The  advantages  of  the  Sunday  School   30 

"       "     "     «   ;  34 

The  importance  and  utility  of  Sunday  School  instruction,   .  38 

PART  II.— ADDRESSES  BY  GIRLS. 
Sunday  School  labour  in  its  benevolence,  and  prospective  good,  45 

Sabbath  School  instruction. — The  beatitudes,  49 

Sabbath  School  instruction. — The  commandments,    .   .   .  54 

PART  III.— DIALOGUES  BY  BOYS. 

Religion,  important  to  children,   59 

Importance  of  religiously  instructing  the  young,     ....  65 

The  exposures  and  protection  of  the  young,   71 

The  rise  and  advantages  of  Sunday  Schools. — Raikes',   .    .  77 

The  Temperance  Pledge,   82 

PART  IV. — DIALOGUES  BY  GIRLS. 

Examples  of  Piety  in  youth,  89 

Dancing,  95 

Christ's  love,  in  his  birth  and  sufferings. — Christmas,  .  .  .101 
The  Mountain  of  Prayer,  (by  two  small  boys  and  a  large  girl)  106 
The  Resurrection,  ill 

PART  V.— RECITATIONS  BY  BOYS. 

A  voice  from  the  towers  of  Zion,  117 

New  Year,  121 

Christmas,  123 

Centenary  of  Methodism,  124 

God  praised  by  his  works,  126 

Monody  on  the  death  of  Rev.  M.  B.  Cox,  Missionary  to  Africa,  128 

Farewell  to  the  Missionaries,  131 

Triumph  of  Temperance,   132 

Contemplation  on  the  works  of  God,  134 

PART  VI.— RECITATIONS  BY  SMALL  BOYS. 

Hope  of  Heaven,  139 

The  great  Orator,  141 

Little  Samuel,  .  142 

The  Little  Traveller,  143 


6 


CONTENTS 


PAET  VII. — EE  CITATIONS  BY  GIRLS. 

Pag« 

The  Bible,   147 

The  Blind  Girl,   149 

The  Lambs  of  Jesus,  151 

The  Child  Jesus,  153 

Flowers  emblematic  of  Childhood,    .........  354 

The  Dead  Bird,   155 

The  Butterfly,   .  157 

The  Pet  Rabbit,  ]  159 

What  I  love,   .   .   !  160 

PART  VHL— BIBLE  CLASS  LESSONS. 

Joseph  revealed  to  his  brethren.    Gen.  xlv.,  .   .   .   .  .  .165 

The  Preservation  of  Moses.    Ex.  ii.  1 — 10,     .    .    .    .  .  .  171 

Solomon's  Prayer  for  Wisdom.    1  Kings,  iii.  1 — 25,     .  .  .176 


PART  IX. 

HYMNS  FOR  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  ANNIVERSARIES. 


HYMNS  FOR  CHRISTMAS. 

Shall  Bethlehem  forget  her  night,   187 

What  though  no  harp  of  golden  string,  188 

Ye  angels  of  heaven,  the  high  born  of  glory,  .    .    .    .    .  .188 

Let  us  sing  to  the  Lord,  Lo  !  from  yonder  bright  throne, .    .  189 

HYMNS  FOR  NEW  YEAR. 

We  bow  before  thy  throne,   190 

Children  come,  with  joy  abounding,  191 

Come  sing,  'tis  a  festal  hour,  192 

HYMNS  ADAPTED  TO  VARIOUS  OCCASIONS. 

Children,  can  you  tell  us  why,  193 

Rise — rise — free  from  thy  mourning,  193 

0  !  see  on  high,  along  the  sky,   194 

Nature  with  ten  thousand  smiles,  195 

Lovely  and  gay,  in  Eden's  day,  196 

What  though  the  pure  Christian  on  earth  ever  tre&ds,  .  .197 
When  childhood's  blissful  hours  have  fled,     .    .       ...  197 

HYMNS  FOR  INFANT  CLASSES. 

Come  join  the  Infant  School  with  me,    .    .    .    .   t    .    .    -  198 

Hark !  how  the  angels  sing,  199 

Come  to  the  Infant  Schsol,  200 

Let  others  sing  of  gladness,  201 

The  joys  that  I  have  known  of  earth,     .  202 

Hearts  may  delight  in  error's  way,  202 

•Tis  sweet,  in  hours  of  childhood,  .........  203 


0 


PREFACE. 


Before  entering  upon  the  more  extensive 
duties  of  the  ministry,  the  author  of  this  volume 
was  employed  for  some  time  as  a  Sunday  school 
teacher,  in  the  city  of  New  York.  For  more  than 
twenty-five  years  he  has  been  endeavouring,  in 
various  places,  to  co-operate  with  the  friends  of 
this  institution  in  directing  efforts  to  the  follow- 
ing important  objects  : 

1.  The  increase  and  punctuality  in  attendance, 
and  the  promotion  of  the  piety  of  the<  school ; 

2.  The  securing  the  confidence  and  support  of 
the  Church  and  community ; 

3.  The  acquisition  of  funds  requisite  for  the 
efficient  conduct  of  the  school. 

These  objects  have  been  promoted  by  anniver- 
sary meetings,  at  which  efficient  speakers  have 
been  employed,  and  by  sermons  preached  some- 
times to  the  children  particularly,  and  at  other 
times  to  the  congregation  in  general.  Such 

7 


8  PKEFACE. 

efforts  have  been  marked  with  such  success  that 
it  is  not  desirable  entirely  to  relinquish  them. 
But  no  means  have  ever  been  found  so  perfectly 
adapted  to  promote  the  above  objects  as  an  An- 
niversary celebration.  On  such  occasions  the 
church  is  usually  crowded,  and  I  have  never 
known  an  instance  in  which  such  a  celebration 
has  not  succeeded  in  procuring  for  the  school  all 
the  financial  help  it  required. 

In  Philadelphia,  New  York,  Brooklyn,  New- 
burgh,  Wilmington,  and  various  other  places 
where  I  have  held  such  celebrations,  I  have 
deemed  them  of  great  influence  in  promoting  the 
revival  of  religion,  while  nothing  tends  so  fully 
to  develope  to  a  congregation  the  true  importance 
of  the  Sunday  school. 

In  the  origin  of  these  celebrations,  having 
taken  part  in  preparing  the  exercises,  and  in 
their  progress,  having  contributed  to  them  in 
various  parts  of  the  United  States,  this  volume 
is  arranged  in  conformity  to  the  wishes  very 
extensively  expressed,  of  those  whose  interests 
in  behalf  of  children  are  too  well  known  to  me 
to  allow  of  my  not  complying  with  their  request. 


r. 


INTRODUCTORY  SUGGESTIONS. 

\ 

 »  

\ 

t  THE  CHARACTER  OF  THE  EXERCISES. 

As  the  leading  design  of  Sunday  school 
instruction  is  entirely  different  from  "that  of 
ordinary  literary  schools,  being  religious  in  its 
character,  the  exercises  of  a  celebration  should 
have  a  decided  religious  tendency.  Every  thing 
introduced  on  these  occasions  should  not  only 
be  school-like,  but  Sunday  school-like.  Though 
it  may  be  advisable  sparingly  to  introduce  some- 
thing that  may  dispel  tediousness,  and  which 
may  serve  to  animate,  interest,  and  even  excite 
the  children,  due  care  must  be  observed  to  cul- 
tivate in  the  minds  of  the  children,  a  reverence 
for  the  place,  while  nothing  must  occur  to  offend 
the  piety  of  the  spiritually  minded.  These  con- 
siderations  have  been  appreciated  in  the  exer- 
cises here  arranged. 

9 


10  INTRODUCTORY  SUGGESTIONS 


II,   THE  TIME  AT  WHICH  THE  CELEBRATION 
SHOULD  BE  HELD. 

Any  of  the  great  public  festivals  are  most 
appropriate,  viz :  Christmas.  New- Year,  Easter, 
the  Fourth  of  July,  &c.  Christmas  being  the 
most  replete  with  incidents  pleasant  to  child- 
hood, is,  perhaps,  the  most  suitable.  It  is  an 
occasion  on  which  they  may  profitably  study  the 
history  of  the  "Holy  Child  Jesus,"  and  awake 
anew  the  songs  of  angels.  Christmas  is  the 
jubilee  of  childhood,  and  I  would  much  rejoice 
to  see  it  appropriated  especially  to  the  improve- 
ment of  children,  as  one  grand  general  day  of 
Sunday  school  celebrations.  Where  this  day 
cannot  be  selected,  New-Year's  day  is  next  in 
adaptation.  In  many  instances  night  will  be 
found  the  most  suitable  and  convenient.  Exer- 
cises adapted  specially  to  one  occasion,  are  no 
less  important  on  any  festival.  The  Saviour's 
birth  and  resurrection  are  always  of  moment, 
and  topics  for  any  occasion. 

« 

III.    THE  AMOUNT  OF  EXERCISES. 

Those  who  take  part  in  the  exercises  will, 
some  of  them,  be  small  children,  as  well  aa 
many  who  attend  as  spectators.  The  school 
will  occupy  the  body  and  centre  of  the  church, 


INTRODUCTORY  SUGGESTIONS.  1] 


so  that  the  small  children  will  not  share  the 
immediate  care  of  their  parents.  These  cir- 
cumstances, particularly  when  the  celebration 
is  held  at  night,  render  it  necessary  that  the 
exercises  should  not  be  too  extended.  One  hour 
and  a  half  is  generally  sufficient,  as  the  scholars 
usually  assemble  nearly  an  hour  sooner  than  the 
congregation,  thus  confining  the  children  nearly 
two  hours  and  a  half.  It  is  true,  the  people 
will  •  retire  with  a  strong  desire  to  have  been 
kept  much  longer,  but  it  is  much  better  to  close 
with  a  good  spirit  than  to  surfeit  the  people  and 
fatigue  the  children. 

These  exercises  require  that  the  children  be 
well  taught  and  practised.  It  is  better  to  have 
little  well  done,  than  to  have  much  poorly  done. 
As  a  suggestion  a  programme  is  here  appended, 
giving  the  variety  of  exercises  and  the  probable 
amount  of  minutes  each  will  require.  The  con- 
gregation being  large,  and  assembling  early,  it 
will  serve  to  compose  them  and  tend  to  interest 
them,  to  have  the  first  hymn  selected  from  the 
hymn  book,  read  by  the  pastor,  and  sung  by  the 
whole  congregation.  "From  all  that  dwell  below 
the  skies,"  is  a  good  hymn,  and  glorious  "  Old 
"Hundred,"  a  good  tune.  I  admire  «  Old  Hun- 
dred' '  on  such  an  occasion,  because,  apart  from 
its  own  excellence,  it  was  composed  by  the  great 
reformer,  Martin  Luther. 


12  INTRODUCTORY  SUGGESTIONS. 

Programme. 


1. 

Singing  by  Congregation, 

6  minutea 

2. 

Prayer,       .  . 

5 

C6 

8. 

Singing  by  Children,  . 

5 

U 

4. 

Address  by  a  large  Boy, 

8 

u 

5. 

Recitation  by  a  lesser  Girl,  . 

5 

u 

6. 

Do.          do.       Boy,  . 

5 

u 

7. 

Bible  Class  examined,  . 

10 

u 

8. 

Singing  by  Children,  . 

5 

u 

9. 

Dialogue  by  large  Boys, 

10 

« 

10. 

Recitation  by  a  very  small  Boy, 

4 

a 

11. 

Do.             do.  Girl, 

4 

a 

12. 

Singing  by  Infant  Class, 

6 

a 

13. 

Dialogue  by  large  Girls, 

8 

a 

14. 

Address  by  a  large  Girl, 

8 

a 

15. 

Singing  by  Children,  . 

5 

a 

16. 

Collection,  .... 

5 

u 

17. 

Singing  by  Children,  . 

5 

u 

18. 

Benediction. 

104  « 

IV.   THE  SELECTION  OF  SPEAKERS. 

It  is  not  advisable  to  select  children  that  are 
very  large.  Care  must  be  taken  in  selecting 
the  children  to  study  the  character  of  the  mat* 
ter,  as  the  speakers  should  be  adapted  in  years 
to  the  subject  they  present.    In  a  dialogue, 


INTRODUCTORY  SUGGESTIONS. 


13 


where  one  speaker  is  giving  instruction  to 
another,  the  instructor  must  be  the  oldest  and 
largest. 

In  some  instances  the  most  ready  to  speak 

are  not  the  most  suitable. 

♦ 

Too  many  children  should  not  be  selected 
from  the  same  family,  nor  should  the  same 
children  be  too  frequently  chosen,  as  it  is  desir- 
able to  distribute  these  little  honours 

0 

In  all  cases  care  must  be  observed  not  to  ex- 
cite the  vanity  of  the  children,  by  impressing 
them  with  any  opinion  of  their  talents.  It  would 
detract  from  the  benefits  of  these  celebrations 
if,  in  individual  instances,  they  were  injurious. 
As  tending  to  excite  vanity,  I  have  always 
doubted  the  propriety  of  publishing  the  names 
of  the  speakers  in  programmes. 

V.   PREPARATORY  PRACTICE. 

The  success  of  a  celebration  depends  very 
much  upon  the  attention  bestowed  upon  the 
children  privately.  Much  will  be  found  awk- 
ward and  imperfect  in  the  children,  and  it  will 
require  great  patience  and  effort  to  get  them  to 
understand  what  they  are  speaking,  and  pro- 
perly to  execute  their  work. 

1.  They  should  be  heard  without  reference  to 


14 


INTRODUCTORY  SUGGESTIONS. 


gesture,  until  they  are  found  fully  to  have  com 
mitted  the  matter  assigned  to  them. 

2.  Emphasis,  gesture,  and  every  thing  relat- 
ing to  style,  should  be  taught  them  next. 

3.  A  proper  elevation  of  voice  is  of  great 
moment.  Whole  dialogues  are  sometimes  spoken 
which  cannot  be  heard  three  seats  from  the  plat- 
form. The  person  engaged  in  training  the 
children  should,  at  particular  times,  take  his 
position  at  the  extremity  of  the  church  or  lec- 
ture room,  and  in  a  loud  voice  tell  the  children 
to  speak  so  that  he  can  hear  them.  The  chil- 
dren will  soon  perceive  the  design,  and  by  the 
perseverance  of  the  instructor  will  overcome  all 
difficulties.  Every  effort  made  in  private  will 
be  fully  repaid  in  the  public  execution. 

On  the  Sabbath  prior  to  the  celebration,  it  is 
well  to  go  through  wTith  all  the  exercises  before 
the  school. 

VI.   TO  THE  YOUTHFUL  SPEAKER. 

1.  When  you  are  practising  speak  as  though 
you  were  in  the  church  and  on  the  platform,  as 
all  your  exercising  in  private  is  with  a  view  to 
your  effort  there. 

2.  The  little  girls,  upon  coming  upon  the  plat- 
form, or  retiring,  must  make  a  gentle  courtesy, 


1 


INTRODUCTORY  SUGGESTIONS 


IS 


which  the  ladies  will  see,  by  previous  attention, 
they  are  prepared  to  do.  The  boy  must  bou\ 
upon  coming  forward  or  retiring.  In  doing  this 
be  careful  to  let  your  hands  hang  down  with 
ease.  Neither  raise  your  arm  nor  suffer  it  to 
be  stiffened.  When  you  reach  your  place  upon 
the  platform,  (toward  one  end  if  in  a  dialogue, 
and  near  the  centre  if  an  address,)  bring  your 
right  heel  to  the  centre  of  your  left  foot,  make 
a  gentle  and  slow  inclination  of  your  head, 
gently  bending  your  body  at  the  same  time — 
then  gently  lift  your  head,  being  careful  all  the 
time  to  keep  your  arms  hanging  with  ease.  This 
bow  is  modest  and  sufficient. 

3.  When  on  the  platform  do  not  smile  at  any 
child  whose  eye  you  may  perceive.  Begin  to 
speak  as  though  you  were  addressing  the  person 
by  the  clock  or  nearest  the  door.  If  he  hears 
you,  all  the  rest  will.  Remember  you  are  on 
the  platform ;  the  school  is  immediately  before 
you ;  the  superintendent  immediately  in  front 
of  the  platform  ;  the  pastor  in  the  pulpit  behind 
you ;  and  your  parents  and  friends  in  the  gal- 
lery. When  you  speak  of  either  of  these,  turn 
your  eyes  toward  them.  When  speaking  of 
God,  heaven,  Jesus,  angels,  &c,  turn  your  eyes 
slightly  upward ;  when  speaking  of  earth,  grave, 
&c,  let  your  eyes  glance  downward. 

4.  When  action  is  called  for,  and  you  lift 


16  INTRODUCTORY  SUGGESTIONS. 

your  hands,  let  them  be  raised  a  little  if  you 
speak  of  the  school — toward  the  gallery,  if  you 
speak  of  your  parents  or  the  public.  But  these 
are  matters  which  must  be  left  to  the  good  taste 
of  those  who  personally  instruct  you.  Try, 
constantly  try,  to  speak  loud,  clear,  and  slow. 

"  Learn  to  speak  slow,  all  other  graces, 
Will  follow  in  their  proper  places." 


PART  I. 


ADDRESSES  BY  BOYS. 

— * — , 

ADDRESS  BY  A  BOY. 

# 

ENCOURAGEMENT  TO  SABBATH  SCHOOL  LABOUR. 

Respected  Audience — 

I  come  before  you  with  my  youthful  heart 
burdened  with  thoughts  upon  a  subject  of  the 
greatest  moment.  Before  I  give  utterance  to 
those  thoughts,  permit  me  to  express  the  glad- 
ness I  feel  in  the  presence  of  our  parents, 
teachers,  and  friends. 

To  meet  in  obedience  to  the  call  of  our  Sab- 
bath school  guardians,  is  at  all  times  gratifying 
to  our  feelings;  but  to  come  together  upon 
occasions  like  the  present  is  truly  rejoicing. 
The  tribes  of  Israel  were  accustomed  to  wor- 
ship, every  tribe  under  its  own  banner,  save 
on  those  occasions  when  it  was  usual  for  them 
upon  some  great  festival  to  unite  in  one  general 
assembly ;  so  we,  during  the  past  year,  have 
been  necessarily  restricted  to  our  own  respec- 
tive schools  :  yet  now,  with  a  gladness  that  can- 

2*  17 


18 


ADDRESS  BY  A  BOY 


not  be  expressed,  we  view  those  middle  walls  of 
partition  removed  for  a  while,  and  we  meet  to- 
gether in  one  common  throng  in  this  the  "  taber- 
nacle of  the  congregation."  It  is  a  solemn  yet 
pleasing  indication  to  the  heart  of  every  pious 
child,  of  the  happiness  of  that  day  when  "  they 
shall  come  from  the  north  and  from  the  south, 
and  from  the  east  and  from  the  west,  and  shall  sit 
down  in  the  kingdom  of  their  heavenly  Father.' 9 

It  is  not  my  intention,  even  should  such  a 
task  be  considered  appropriate  in  one  of  my 
humble  years,  to  present  any  arguments  in  sup- 
port of  an  institution  upon  which,  in  so  clear  a 
manner,  the  glory  of  the  Lord  has  rested. 

Should  I  attempt  to  enumerate  the  advan- 
tages of  the  Sabbath  school,  my  youthful  heart 
would  tremble  under  their  weight,  and  lost  in 
the  contemplation  of  their  greatness,  I  would 
have  to  exclaim  with  the  psalmist,  "  they  are 
more  than  can  be  told." 

The  work  of  argument  I  shall  leave  for  older 
and  for  abler  hands.  But  to  you,  our  superin- 
tendents and  teachers,  I  must  be  permitted  to 
address  a  few  words  of  encouragement. 

However  numerous  and  free  may  be  the  gifts 
of  a  beneficent  Providence,  it  is  a  feature  in 
the  Divine  government  to  connect  labour  and 
reward.  He,  therefore,  who  would  share  in  the 
reward,  must  first  be  a  partaker  of  the  toil.  Th© 


ENCOURAGEMENT  TO  LABOUR.  19 


Lord  hath  said,  "  he  that  soweth  little  shall  reap 
little,  and  he  that  soweth  plenteously  shaH.  reap 
plenteously."  Be  not  discouraged,  dear  teachers, 
though  some  of  us  appear  at  present  to  reject 
the  instruction  you  impart  with  so  much  fidelity 
and  affection.  If  the  prophet  was  constrained 
to  lament  the  hardness  of  the  human  heart,  and 
to  exclaim  "who  hath  believed  our  report  ?" — 
yea,-if  seed,  distributed  by  the  unerring  hand  of 
the  Son  of  Grod,  sometimes  fall  by  the  way  side, 
*>r  among  thorns,  or  even  upon  stony  ground, 
shall  ye  be  "  weary  and  faint  in  your  mind  ?" 

The  Sabbath  school  is  the  church's  nursery ; 
and  in  the  nursery  how  much  of  patient  labour 
must  b£  expended.  Every  little  plant  must  be 
watched,  and  the  dresser  of  the  vineyard,  with 
the  eye  and  hand  of  vigilance,  must  adopt  those 
measures  which  will  give  health  to  the  root  and 
vigour  to  the  branches.  Let  your  labours,  then, 
dear  teachers,  be  unremitted  in  support  of  the 
Sunday  school  cause:  a  cause  with  which  is 
blended,  to  an  extent  which  cannot  be  reached 
even  by  the  eye  of  an  angel,  the  happiness,  now 
and  for  ever,  of  these  children,  the  children  of  our 
country — and  the  children  of  our  whole  earth. 

Should  you,  at  any  moment,  suffer  your  hearts 
to  despond,  let  the  exposures  of  our  childhood 
impel  you  to  our  rescue.  Sin,  like  the  avengei 
of  blood  pursuing  the  manslayer,  is  pressing 


20 


ADDRESS  BY  A  BOY. 


upon  us  with  every  step  of  our  being ;  but,  under 
God,  the  Sabbath  school  points  us  to  our  city 
of  refuge.    Iniquity,  like  a  mighty  flood,  is 
sweeping  over  our  land ;  but  the  Sabbath  school 
is  our  holy  ark,  whose  walls  are  salvation  and 
whose  gates  are  praise.     Already  have  your 
labours  been  crowned  with  much  success.  In 
every  department  of  virtuous  life  are  to  be 
found  men  and  women,  who  once  were  children 
at  the  Sabbath  school,  while  the  society  of  the 
redeemed  on  high  is  receiving  its  accessions 
from  among  those  children  who,  through  the 
instrumentality  of  this  institution,  were  brought 
to  the  knowledge  of  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Christ, 
for  children  often  die,  even  the  children  of  the 
Sabbath  school.    There  are  many  such  in  hea- 
ven ;  some,  perhaps,  gathered  there  through  the 
sanctified  efforts  of  some  who  are  here  to-day. 
If,  at  any  period,  your  hearts  should  falter 
through  any  discouragement,  let  the  prospect 
of  reward  re-animate  your  hope,  and  may  your 
toils  be  cheered  by  the  vision  of  that  rest  which 
"remains  for  the  people  of  God." 

"  'Tis  there  with  the  lambs  of  thy  flo  Jk, 

There  only  I  covet  to  rest ; 
To  lie  at  the  foot  of  the  rock, 

Or  rise  to  be  hid  in  thy  breast ; 
'Tis  there  I  would  always  abide, 

And  never  a  moment  depart ; 
Conceal'd  in  the  cleft  of  thy  side, 

Ete-rually  held  in  thy  heart." 


ADDRESS  BY  A  BOY. 

ENCOURAGEMENT    TO  LABOUR. 

Respected  Audience- — 

# 

However  inappropriate  it  may  be,  upon  ordi- 
nary occasions,  for  one  of  my  youth,  to  address 
an  assembly  of  such  character  as  the  one  before 
me,  yet,  I  trust,  the  great  object  for  which  we 
are  convened,  will  sufficiently  justify  my  effort 
in  appealing  to  you  in  behalf  of  the  Sabbath 
school. 

Children  are  the  objects  of  mucn  temptation, 
and  consequently  claim  the  solicitude  of  the 
more  advanced  in  years.  Being  the  special 
objects  of  Divine  favour,  and  being  the  recipi- 
ents of  Sabbath  school  instruction,  they  should 
be  privileged  occasionally  to  break  their  silence, 
in  rendering  thanks  to  those  who  labour  for 
them,  and  in  expressing  their  admiration  of  this 
holy  institution. 

The  principal  object  for  which  I  appear  at 
present,  is  to  urge  to  unabated  efforts,  those 
upon  whom  rests  the  responsibility  of  sustaining 
this  important  cause. 

21 


22 


ADDRESS  BY  A  BOY 


In  this  department  of  religious  labour,  par* 
ticular  attention  is  given  to  the  inculcation  of 
sentiments  leading  to  an  early  attachment  to 
the  Bible.  Childhood,  to  which  the  grave  is 
always  dark  and  repulsive,  is  taught  in  the  Bible 
to  look  upon  the  " life  that  now  is,"  as  the  vesti- 
bule of  "  that  which  is  to  come ;"  and  instead  of 
fixing  a  desponding  eye  upon  the  "valley  of 
the  shadow  of  death,"  here  the  vision  of  youth 
is  cheered  by  the  light  of  the  Bible,  and  en- 
couraged to  look  on  high  to  the  scenes  of 
«  immortality  and  eternal  life." 

"  Here  light  descending  from  above, 
Directs  our  doubtful  feet, 
Here  promises  of  heavenly  love, 
Our  ardent  wishes  meet. 

«  Our  numerous  griefs  are  here  redrest, 
And  all  our  wants  supplied  ; 
Naught  we  can  ask  to  make  us  blest, 
Is  in  this  book  denied." 

Could  I  do  no  more  upon  this  occasion  to 
encourage  those  who  are  engaged  in  this  field 
of  labour,  I  would  stretch  out  my  hands  to  you, 
our  superintendents,  teachers,  and  friends,  in 
behalf  of  these  children,  and  urge  you,  as  you 
have  taken  us  upon  your  arms,  never  to  lay  us 
down,  until  we  reach  that  period  of  life  in  which 
the  vigour  of  our  youth,  strengthened  by  your 
moral  training,  shall  prepare  us  for  the,  resist- 


ENCOURAGEMENT  TO  LABOUR.  25 


ance  of  temptation  and  the  discharge  of  those 
duties  which  will  then  devolve  upon  us. 

You  are  now  bearing  "the  burden  and  heat 
of  the  day."  Though  you  may  sometimes  be 
almost  discouraged  from  our  childish  perverse- 
ness,  yet  I  am  persuaded  your  "labour  shall 
not  be  in  vain,"  for  as  we  ripen  in  years,  what- 
ever "childish  things"  we  shall  leave  off,  our 
remembrance  of  you  will  strengthen  with  time, 
as  the  fruit  of  your  planting  shall  ripen  and 
appear. 

Although  some  of  us  may  now  appear  insen- 
sible to  your  kindness,  yet  I  believe  I  speak 
what  all  our  hearts  will  one  day  feel,  that  such 
of  us  as  shall  attain  to  manhood,  could  we,  after 
years  of  separation,  mingle  with  you  in  a  scene 
like  this,  we  would  gather  around  you  as  chil- 
dren around  a  long  absent  father,  and  cling 
to  you  in  all  the  devotedness  of  our  earliest 
love. 

But  gratifying  as  this  might  be,  I  know  that 
there  is  a  reward  to  which  you  look,  of  higher 
and  eternal  value — the  approbation  of  your  Grod. 
Of  this,  we  trust  your  own  hearts  have  already 
the  assurance,  and  will  share  its  full  commmma* 
tion  in  the  day  of  our  Lord's  appearing 

*  O  that  with  yonder  sacred  throng, 
We  at  his  feet  may  fall ; 
We'll  join  the  everlasting  song, 
And  crown  him  Lord  of  all." 


24 


ADDRESS  BY  A  BOY. 


A  few  words  to  our  parents,  and  I  will  return 
to  my  silence  and  to  my  seat.  I  beseech  you 
to  sustain,  by  every  means  in  your  power,  an 
institution  which  bears  so  many  lambs  in  its 
bosom,  and  to  become  co-workers  with  those 
who  are  engaged  in  this  work  of  mercy. 

We  make  this  appeal  to  you,  our  parents, 
because  of  your  anxiety  for  the  good  of  your 
children,  and  I  only  speak  in  behalf  of  every 
dutiful  child  here,  when  I  say, 

"  My  father — my  mother — I  know, 

I  cannot  your  goodness  repay  ; 
But  I  hope  that  as  older  I  grow, 

I  shall  learn  your  commands  to  obey. 
You  lov'd  me  before  I  could  tell 

Who  it  was  that  so  tenderly  smil'd, 
And  now,  that  I  know  it  so  well, 

I  should  be  a  dutiful  child." 

In  this  work,  so  much  depends  upon  our 
mothers,  that  to  them  I  must  more  particularly 
and  most  affectionately  speak.  Our  mothers ! 
Ye  instruments  of  the  most  exalted  good ! 
Who,  who  can  estimate- tha  excellencies  of  your 
character,  when  your  delight  is  to  train  your 
children  in  the  fear  of  God.  How  many  who 
now  near  me,  feel,  amid  their  riper  years,  that 
they  owe  most  of  the  virtues  that  adorn  them 
to  the  instrumentality  of  a  mother,  or  may,  at 
this  moment,  recur  to  some  saint  now  in  heaven, 
who  lived  to  labour  for  their  happiness,  with  th« 
Warmest  fervour  of  a  mother's  love. 


ENCOURAGEMENT  TO  LABOUR,  25 

Usually  limited  by  her  disposition,  as  well  as 
duties,  to  the  scenes  of  her  own  house,  the 
devoted  mother  renders  her  home  the  place  of 
instruction,  where,  in  confiding  simplicity,  the 
child  inhales  from  its  mother's  lips  the  holy 
truths  of  the  Son  of  God.  Often  does  the  coun- 
tenance of  the  fond  mother  glow  with  delight, 
while'  her  eye  turns  occasionally  to  heaven,  as 
her  soul  breathes  the  fervent  prayer  for  heaven's 
blessing  upon  her  work.  Yes,  mothers,  it  was 
never  intended  that  the  Sabbath  school  should 
render  your  labours  unnecessary,  any  more  than 
it  was  designed  to  render  unnecessary  the  la 
bours  of  the  sanctuary.  The  design  is,  as  we 
trust  results  will  continue  to  develope,  that, 
under  God,  good  seed  will  continue  to  be  scat- 
tered through  the  agency  of  the  Sunday  school, 
which,  watered  at  home,  shall  spring  up  in  child- 
hood, bear  its  fruit  in  the  sanctuary,  and  be 
^gathered  finally  into  the  everlasting  garner  of 
God. 


ADDRESS  BY  A  BOY. 

/ 

ENCOURAGEMENT  TO  SABBATH  SCHOOL  LABOUR. 

Respected  Audience — 

The  unusual  appearance  of  one  of  my  years 
before  an  assembly,  may  be  thought  by  some  to 
require  an  explanation.  I  trust,  however,  it 
will  be  deemed  a  sufficient  apology,  and  that  I 
shall  have  your  forbearance,  when  I  inform  you 
that  I  come  into  your  presence,  the  humble  advo- 
cate of  a  cause  of  the  utmost  importance  to  the 
youth  of  the  present  and  future  generations. 

If  the  Redeemer,  whose  ways  are  infinitely 
wise,  when  he  called  a  child  and  stood  him  in 
the  midst  of  the  disciples,  could  render  one  so 
young  instrumental  in  conveying  instruction  to 
minds  so  well  informed,  I  cannot  refrain  from 
hoping  that  he  will  now  permit  a  youth  to  have 
some  instrumentality  in  presenting  the  claims 
of  a  cause  so  closely  blended  with  the  cause  of 
Christ  as  is  the  Sabbath  school. 

I  am  the  more  ready,  however  feeble,  to 
enter  upon  this  duty,  because  I  am  surrounded 
by  those  who  are  already  the  friends  of  our 
school.  I  do  not  come  in  the  character  of  little 
26 


ENCOURAGEMENT  TO  LABOUR.  27 

David,  the  shepherd-son  of  Jesse,  to  contend 
with  a  mighty  and  defying  Groliah.  No !  the 
battle  is  already  fought- — the  victory  is  the 
Lord's ;  and  the  advantages  of  the  Sabbath 
school  are  so  very  apparent  to  all,  that  not  only 
those  who  give  the  subject  a  full  investigation, 
but  even  the  way-faring  man  need  not  err  in 
opinion  respecting  it.  My  object,  therefore,  is 
not  to  remove  your  prejudices,  for  I  trust  you 
have  none.  My  work  is  the  more  delightful  one 
of  uniting  with  you  in  your  rejoicing  over  the 
past,  and  encouraging  you  in  your  labours  for 
the  future. 

As  it  was  said  by  an  inspired  apostle,  when 
referring  to  the  numerous  and  faithful  converts 
to  Christianity,  ye  are  our  "  living  epistles, 
known  and  read  of  all  men,"  so  may  the  Sab- 
bath school  say  of  its  numerous  sons  and  daugh- 
ters, now  filling,  in  mature  life,  the  most  worthy 
and  important  stations.  How  many  a  Timothy, 
when  but  a  child,  was  here  taught  the  Holy 
Scriptures,  which  are  able  to  make  «  wise  unto 
salvation,  which  is  by  faith  in  Jesus  Christ 
so  that  he  now  stands  among  the  pillars  in  the 
house  of  Grod,  or  is  numbered  among  the  golden 
candlesticks  of  the  altar.  Others,  who  once 
were  numbered  among  the  lambs  of  our  fold, 
have  fallen  asleep  in  Jesus,  and  have  gone  to 
be  among  the  first  fruits  of  that  «  great  multi- 


28 


ADDRESS  BY  A  BOY. 


tilde,  which  no  man  can  number,"  many  of 
whom,  through  the  instrumentality  of  the  Sab- 
bath school,  have  been  gathered  to  a  home  in 
heaven 

"  Death  may  the  bands  of  life  unloose, 
But  can't  dissolve  his  love ; 
Millions  of  infant  souls  compose 
The  family  above." 

As  God  is  ever  well  pleased  to  employ  and 
honour  human  instrumentality,  the  future  suc- 
cess of  this  cause  must  greatly  depend  upon  our 
ministers,  superintendents,  and  teachers,  as  well 
as  the  co-operation  of  our  friends  generally. 
Though  there  are  some  who  ought  to  be  engaged 
in  this  work,  who  are  standing  « all  the  day 
idle,"  yet  many  of  you  entered  in  at  an  early 
day,  and  have  faithfully  continued.  It  is,  how- 
ever, one  of  the  unfortunate  tendencies  of  our 
nature,  to  become  "  weary  in  well  doing."  Even 
those  disciples  who  saw  the  Lord's  glory  felt  the 
flesh  to  be  weak,  insomuch  that  they  needed  his 
care  to  stir  them  up  to  watchfulness  through  a 
single  hour.  Be  not  disheartened  then,  though 
there  be  some  whose  hands  occasionally  hang 
down,  whose  knees  tremble,  and  who  almost 
"faint  by  the  way."  What,  dear  teachers, 
though  some  of  us,  your  scholars,  appear  but 
little  benefited  by  your  efforts,  "  whatsoever  you 
do,  do  as  unto  the  Lord,"  and  it  shall  be  repaid 


ENCOURAGEMENT  TO  LABOUR.  29 

you  abundantly.  The  work  in  which  you  are 
engaged  will  contribute  to  your  own  steadfast- 
ness in  religion,  and  enlarge  and  enrich  your 
minds  in  the  grace  and  knowledge  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ.  Before  I  conclude,  let  me  entreat 
you,  our  parents  and  friends,  to  sustain  by  your 
prayers,  and  to  support  by  your  liberality,  an 
institution,  the  successful  operations  of  which 
will  form  the  present  character,  and  control,  to 
a  great  extent,  the  eternal  happiness  of  these 
children.  Act  as  God  requires — as  your  con- 
science dictates — and  as  circumstances  may 
allow.  Then  shall  these  children  rise  up  and 
call  you  blessed,  in  this  life,  and  blend  with  you 
in  your  rejoicings  when  your  spirits  shall  unite 
with  those  «  made  perfect  in  heaven." 

"  There  all  the  ship's  company  meet, 

Who  sail'd  with  the  Saviour  beneath, 
With  shouting  each  other  they  greet, 

And  triumph  o'er  sorrow  and  death. 
The  voyage  of  life's  at  an  end, 

The  mortal  affliction  is  past, 
The  age  that  in  heaven  we  spend, 

For  ever  and  ever  shall  last." 


3* 


ADDRESS  BY  A  BOY 


THE  ADVANTAGES  OF  THE  SUNDAY  SCHOOL. 

Respected  Audience — 

The  recurrence  of  our  Sabbath  school  cele- 
bration, places  upon  me  the  responsibility  of 
addressing  you.  This  is  a  duty,  I  am  well  aware, 
which  might  be  assigned  to  older  and  to  abler 
hands  than  mine,  and  in  the  discharge  of  which 
might  be  employed,  the  pen  of  the  most  ready 
writer,  and  the  tongue  of  the  most  eloquent 
pleader,  as  the  Sabbath  school  is  a  cause  over 
which  angels  rejoice,  and  which  God  has  sealed 
with  an  approbation  so  decided,  that  no  time 
can  obliterate  its  traces  from  the  globe.  Mil- 
lions of  the  children  of  our  world  are  this  day 
reposing  under  this  vine  and  fig-tree,  none  dar- 
ing to  molest  them  or  make  them  afraid.  Of 
the  tens  of  thousands  of  the  happy  Sunday 
school  children  of  our  own  Columbia,  we  this 
day  gather  under  this  vine,  and  come  with  you 
in  this  season  of  vintage  to  pluck  and  eat  its 
fruit  of  righteousness.  Sitting  with  you  in  this 
heavenly  place,  we  are  each  constrained  to  ex- 
30 


ADDRESSES  BY  BOYS,  31 

claim,  he  brought  me  "  to  his  banqueting  house, 
and  his  banner  over  me  was  love." 

"All  thy  children  shall  be  taught  of  the 
Lord,  and  great  shall  be  the  peace  of  thy  chil- 
dren," is  a  prophetic  sentiment,  and  replete  with 
the  indications  of  Divine  mercy  to  childhood. 
As  it  is  our  privilege  to  enjoy  the  realization  of 
this  glorious  promise,  it  should  be  our  happiness 
to  utter  the  expressions  of  our  most  fervent 
gratitude. 

I  should,  I  am  sensible,  prove  unfaithful  to 
my  duty,  and  act  unworthily  as  the  representa- 
tive of  these  children,  should  I  allow  this  occa- 
sion to  pass  without  encouraging,  in  some  humble 
degree,  those  who  in  this  arduous  work  render 
us  the  objects  of  their  prayerful  toil.  There 
are  times,  no  doubt,  when  the  instability  of 
childhood  renders  apparent  the  difficulties  'of 
your  work.  It  is  not,  however,  upon  the  pre- 
sent, merely,  that  you  are  to  look.  To  the 
future  walks  of  honourable  life  you  must  extend 
your  thoughts,  where  these  children  will  appear 
to  impart  in  a  virtuous  and  useful  example,  the 
benefit  derived  from  your  counsel  and  your  care. 
Nor  must  your  view  be  limited  by  the  horizon 
of  the  present  life ;  for  when  our  days  are  spent 
"  as  the  days  of  an  hireling,"  and  we  with  you 
shall  be  released  from  time  and  its  toils,  there 
is  a  "  reward  for  the  righteous,"  which  shall  be 


32  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SPEAKER 


abundantly  ministered  unto  all  who  do  well. 
Nor  is  our  journeying  to  that  rest,  through 
paths  of  roughness  begirt  with  reeds  and  rushes, 
and  rendered  frightful  by  the  roar  and  the 
bound  of  the  lion.  0  no  !  the  highway  of  our 
God  has  been  opened,  and  stretching  the  eye 
over  its  unbroken  length,  we  see  in  its  distant 
vista,  the  promise  of  that  "fulness  of  joy," 
which  is  found  at  the  end  of  "  the  path  of  life." 

0  think,  dear  teachers,  of  the  high  and  last- 
ing consolation  which  it  will  afford  you,  if  God 
should  make  you  the  instrument  of  salvation  to 
but  one  child !  What  must  be  the  happiness  of 
that  teacher,  when  the  Lord  shall  call  him  to 
his  reward.  Look  for  a  moment  at  that  pure 
spirit,  which  though  absent  from  the  body,  has 
gone  to  be  present  with  the  Lord.  When  the 
soul  reaches  the  suburbs  of  that  city  which  hath 
foundations,  and  just  as  the  land  of  pure  delight 
rises  to  his  view,  he  is  approached  by  a  band  of 
angels.  Their  raiment  is  pure  white,  and  their 
faces  beam  with  an  indescribable  loveliness. 
One  smaller  than  the  rest  advances  from  the 
little  group,  and  accosts  the  stranger-spirit,  and 
with  all  the  fervour  and  familiarity  of  a  well- 
known  friend,  the  angel  salutes  him  by  his 
name.  "Who  art  thou,"  says  the  spirit,  "and 
how  is  it  that  I  am  known  to  thee?"  "Dost 
thou  not  know  me?"  says  the  angel.    "I  am 


ADDRESSES  BY  BOYS. 


33 


little  Henry — the  widow's  son — a  child  of  your 
class — to  whom  you  used  to  speak  of  Jesus.  I 
prayed  to  him  and  found  him — and  though  the 
Lord  took  me  from  the  evil  to  come,  he  brought 
me  to  this  happy  and  holy  abode.  Come  !  I  will 
show  you  the  gate ;  I  will  lead  thee  to  the 
throne ;  and  it  shall  give  me  joy  m  heaven,  now 
that  you  have  failed  from  the  earth,  to  welcome 
you  into  everlasting  habitations.' ' 

In  conclusion,  let  me  urge  upon  all,  the  im- 
portance of  unremitted  diligence,  in  promoting 
in  every  possible  manner  the  prosperity  of  this 
cause. 

"  Fight  on,  ye  conquering  souls,  fight  on, 
And  when  the  conquest  you  have  won, 
Then  palms  of  victory  you  shall  bear, 
And  in  his  kingdom  have  a  share, 
And  crowns  of  glory  ever  wear, 
In  endless  day." 


ADDRESS  BY  A  BOY. 


Respected  Audience — 

Ix  coming  before  this  assembly,  at  the  request 
of  the  officers  of  my  school,  I  trust  that  I  shall 
not  be  considered  as  disregarding  the  feelings 
of  delicacy,  which  should  ever  distinguish  the 
young.  Diffidence,  at  other  times  lovely  and 
commendable,  becomes  a  fault  when  permitted 
to  restrain  us  from  duty. 

Had  the  youthful  David  been  influenced  more 
by  diffidence  than  by  a  conviction  of  duty,  he 
would  have  preferred  the  bleating  of  the  sheep- 
fold  to  the  shouts  of  the  soldiery,  and  would 
have  loved  the  tones  of  his  own  harp,  more  than 
the  herald  sounds  of  the  trump  of  war.  Never 
would  he  have  exposed  himself  to  the  censure 
of  his  brethren — the  eagle  eye  of  Saul — and 
the  giant  arm  of  Goliah.  But  under  a  sense 
of  duty,  and  with  an  undismayed  heart,  he  pur- 
sued that  course  which  in  its  results,  proclaims, 
even  to  childhood,  that  God  often  chooses  things 
that  are  weak  to  abase  and  subdue  the  mighty. 

As  the  representative  of  my  school,  it  is  my 
duty  to  render  you  my  thanks,  and  the  thanks 
of  these  numerous  hearts,  that  you  have  thus 
34 


ADDRESSES  BY  BOYS.  35 

far  laboured  for  us  in  love.  Through  your 
efforts  we  have  received  instruction,  the  value  of 
which  can  never  be  told,  and  which,  we  trust,  will 
deepen  its  impression  upon  our  minds  when  we 
shall  be  separated  from  your  presence,  and  shall 
have  left  the  school,  to  mingle  in  the  scenes  and 
duties  of  useful  life.  Long  after  the  lips  which 
so  often  have  instructed  us  shall  be  silent,  and 
when  your  own  souls  may  be  enjoying  the  frui- 
tion of  heaven,  some  of  these  children  may,  in 
their  turn,  be  imparting  to  the  young,  the  in- 
struction now  given  by  you  from  Sabbath  to 
Sabbath.  Thus  the  seed  sowed  by  you  may 
bring  forth  "thirty,  sixty,  and  an  hundred 
fold,"  while  your  own  spirits,  resting  "from 
their  labours,"  may  be  reposing  under  the 
brighter  banner  of  eternal  love. 

The  rude  storm  of  winter  no  more  shall  assail  thee, 

Nor  sufi's  burning  ray  ever  smite  thee  again ; 
No  fear  that  thy  faith,  or  thy  vigour  shall  fail  thee, 

Nor  ingratitude  ruffle  thy  bosom  with  pain. 
But  there,  in  the  light  of  the  throne  that's  before  thee, 

When  the  tribes  of  the  Lord  shall  convene  from  afar,  - 
When  the  righteous  shall  shine  as  the  sun  in  his  glory* 

Each  child  shall  appear  as  a  bright  morning  star. 

'In  rendering  to  you  our  acknowledgments  of 
your  services  and  love,  we  would  aecomp&ny 
them  with  every  persuasion  to  a  «  continuance 
in  well  doing."  "Is  it  lawful  to  do  good  on  the 
Sabbath  day?"    Then  are  you  engaged  in  a 


36  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SPEAKER. 


most  lawful  pursuit — co-operating  in  the  efforts 
of  the  ministry.  You  are  engaged  in  teaching 
these  children  to  "  remember  the  Sabbath  day 
— to  keep  it  holy."  Here  you  give  us  that  ines- 
timable book — the  Bible.  A  book  whose  every 
teaching  says,  "  Come  ye  children,  hearken  unto 
me,  I  will  teach  you  the  fear  of  the  Lord." 
Here,  too,  we  are  instructed  in  the  necessity, 
nature,  and  advantages  of  prayer.  Here  it  is 
your  work  to  gather  these  children,  and  like 
Eli,  inform  them  that  the  word  of  the  Lord  is 
still  precious,  and  while  the  lamp  of  heavenly 
light  is  still  glowing  upon  us,  it  is  your  duty  to 
show  us  that  God  is  calling  us,  that  we  may 
early  answer,  as  did  Samuel,  "  Speak  Lord,  for 
thy  servant  heareth."  Thus,  your  duty  is  prin- 
cipally comprised  in  teaching  us  to  love  the 
Sabbath— the  Bible — and  Prayer.  These  are 
the  glories  that  form  that  bow  of  beauty  which, 
like  heaven's  arch  of  loveliness  and  mercy,  thrown 
across  our  path,  will  cheer  us  with  its  smile.  0  ! 
give  us  these,  or  you  will  leave  us  without  the 
"light  of  life."  I  know,  dear  teachers,  that 
there  is  much  to  dismay  the  heart  that  looks 
only  «  at  the  things  which  are  seen."  You  must 
look  into  the  future.  You  are  now  nurturing 
these  little  sapplings,  which,  under  your  care, 
may  "  grow  upright  as  the  cedar  of  Lebanon 
and  who,  in  future  years,  as  the  great  Master- 


ADDRESSES  BY  BOYS. 


87 


builder  shall  be  carrying  up  his  temj  le,  shall  be 
taken  to  give  beauty  or  strength  to  the  building, 
or  be  made  "pillars  in  the  house  of  God."  The 
holiest  saints,  now  raised  to  «  sit  together  in 
heavenly  places/'  were  once  children  even  as 
we,  yea,  "children  of  wrath  even  as  others." 
Labour,  then,  in  patience— labour  in  hope— that 
through  your  instrumentality  God  may  deliver 
us  "  from  the  power  of  darkness,  and  translate 
us  into  the  kingdom  of  his  dear  Son." 

The  latter  day  glory  will  come,  and  the  Sab- 
bath school  is  one  of  those  institutions  which 
shall  usher  in  a  transformed  world.  Whatever 
discouragements  you  may  feel,  think  of  the  cer- 
tain part  you  are  bearing,  in  advancing  that  day 
when  God  shall  say  to  Zion,  «  ye  shall  go  forth 
with  joy,  and  be  led  forth  with  peace.  The 
mountains  and  the  hills  shall  break  forth  before 
you  into  singing,  and  all  the  trees  of  the  field 
shall  clap  their  hands  ;  instead  of  the  brier  shall 
come  up  the  myrtle  tree.    Thy  people,  also, 
shall  be  all  righteous,  they  shall  inherit  the 
land  forever,  the  branch  of  my  planting,  the 
work  of  my  hand,  that  I  may  be  glorified.  A 
little  one  shall  become  a  thousand,  and  a  small 
one  a  strong  nation." 

«  The  glory  of  the  Lord  displayed, 
Shall  all  mankind  together  view, 
And  what  his  mouth  in  truth  hath  said, 
His  own  almighty  hand  shall  do." 

4 


ADDRESS  BY  A  BOY, 


Respected  Audience — 

The  season  has  returned  when  we  again  as- 
semble with  you,  to  participate  in  the  festivities 
of  a  Christmas  day— a  day  which  excites  in  us 
emotions  of  the  greatest  happiness,  as  remind- 
ing us  of  the  love  of  Him,  "who,  hough  he  was 
rich,  for  your  sake  became  poor,  that  ye  through 
his  poverty  might  be  rich." 

The  frequency  with  which  we  appear  before 
you,  and  the  great  interest  you  have  thus  far 
taken  in  the  welfare  of  our  schools,  render  it 
unnecessary  for  me  to  enter  into  any  laboured 
arguments  to  show  the  utility  of  this  institution* 

Who  that  is  a  friend  to  the  Bible  can  refrain 
from  supporting  an  institution,  whose  primary 
design  is  to  place  that  best  of  books  into  the 
hands  of  every  child,  and  to  give  that  instruc- 
tion which  will  impress  the  truths  of  that  Bible 
upon  every  heart  ?  Especially  in  this  day,  when 
the  enemies  of  all  ' righteousness  with  untiring 
zeal,  strive  by  every  means,  to  beguile  us  from 
the  simplicity  whic  j.  is  in  Christ  J esus. 

Who,  that  has  any  affection  for  our  common 
38 


ADDRESSES  BY  BOYS. 


39 


and  beloved  country,  will  refuse  to  support  an 
institution  with  which  is  connected  so  closely, 
that  country's  good  ? 

It  was  the  saying  of  an  illustrious  statesman, 
that  "  intelligence  is  the  life  of  liberty."  Hence 
to  promote  the  cause  of  liberty  we  must  promote 
the  cause  of  intelligence.  Let  those,  then,  whc 
mourn  over  those  popular  commotions  which 
sometimes  agitate  our  country,  do  every  thing  in 
their  power  to  lengthen  the  cords,  and  strengthen 
the  stakes  of  the  Sabbath  school,  and  to  bring 
the  children  of  our  land  under  its  influence. 
Then  shall  a  generation  come  forth  who  shall 
flourish  "  as  the  palm-tree,  and  grow  upright  as 
the  cedars  in  Lebanon.' ' 

There  is  in  the  helplessness  and  simplicity  of 
youth,  that  which  commends  them  to  the  tender 
consideration  even  of  strangers.  How  mucjf 
more  so  to  their  friends  and  relatives  !  Every 
friend  of  the  child  is  urged  by  the  most  encou- 
raging considerations,  to  sustain  by  prayers,  by 
counsel,  and  by  money,  this  noble  and  benevo- 
lent cause.  The  Sabbath  school  has  been  in- 
strumental of  rearing  a  wall  of  virtue  around 
thousands  and  tens  of  thousands  of  children — a 
wall  more  solid  than  adamant,  and  more  beau- 
tiful than  jasper  or  gold.  The  Sabbath  school 
has  been  the  means  of  bringing  many  to  taste 
at  the  feet  of  Jesus,  that  happiness  which  has 


40  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SPEAKER. 


consummated  in  their  final  rest  upon  the  bosom 
of  Grod ;  for  as  even  children  are  liable  to  die, 
the  Sabbath  school  has  yielded  its  tribute  to 
swell  the  number  of  those  who  now  have  life  for 
ever,  in  that  house  "  not  made  with  hands,  eter- 
nal in  the  heavens,"  where 

"  The  saints  in  his  presence  receive 
Their  great  and  eternal  reward; 
In  Jesus,  in  heaven  they  live ; 

They  reign  in  the  smile  of  their  Lord." 

In  the  vegetable  world  God  has  appointed 
seed  time  and  harvest.  That  the  harvest  may 
be  good,  the  seed  time  must  be  improved.  It  is 
the  same  in  the  moral  world.  And  if  in  future 
years  we  would  not  gather  thorns  and  thistles 
from  the  present  generation  of  children,  we 
must  be  early  in  occupying  the  soil.  In  the 
course  of  a  few  brief  years,  dear  parents,  many 
of  us  will  be  reaching  that  age  in  life  when  we 
must  leave  the  parental  roof,  and  be,  to  some  ex- 
tent, precluded  from  that  advice  which  it  is  now 
your  privilege  to  give,  and  our  blessedness  to 
receive.  The  year  is  not  distant  when  some  of 
these  your  sons  and  daughters  will  say — 

"  Mother,  I  leave  thy  dwelling, 

Thy  counsel  and  thy  care ; 
With  grief  my  heart  is  swelling,  \| 

No  more  in  them  to  share ; 
Nor  hear  that  sweet  voice  speaking, 

When  hours  of  joy  run  high, 
Nor  meet  that  mild  eye  seeking, 

When  sorrow's  touch  comes  nigh. 


ADDRESSES  BY  BOYS.  41 


*  Father,  I  leave  thy  dwelling, 

And  the  sweet  house  of  prayer; 
With  grief  my  heart  is  swelling, 

No  more  to  meet  thee  there. 
Thy  faith,  and  fervor,  pleading, 

In  unspent  tones  of  love, 
Perchance  my  soul  are  leading, 

To  better  hopes  above." 

0,  then,  dear  parents,  work  while  it  is  called 
day,  before  the  harvest  is  passed,  and  the  sum- 
mer is  ended. 

To  you,  dear  Superintendents  and  Teachers, 
let  me  render  the  thanks  of  these  hundreds  of 
hearts,  for  your  constant  devotedness  to  our 
good,  and  in  urging  you  to  future  perseverance. 
I  doubt  not,  these  children  will  unite  with  me, 
and  stretch  out  their  hands,  imploring  you  not 
to  leave  us  while  we  say — «  Thy  people  shall  be 
my  people,  and  thy  Grod  my  Grod." 

[This  last  is  to  be  repeated  by  the  children.] 


4* 


/ 


PART  II. 

ADDRESSES  BY  GIRLS 


ADDRESS  BY  A  GIRL. 

[Many  schools,  particularly  in  cities  and  towns,  are  accustomed 
to  make  provision  for  children  in  circumstances  of  need,  fur- 
nishing them  clothing,  without  which  they  would  be  unable 
to  attend  the  school.  The  following  address  is  designed  for 
such,  and  may,  in  any  of  its  parts,  be  adapted  to  the  circum- 
stances of  the  school.] 

Respected  Audience — 

^  You  will  not,  I  am  confident,  view  with  un- 
kindness  the  appearance  of  a  little  girl.  Why 
should  not  a  little  girl,  for  once,  break  the 
silence  which  she  loves,  when  persuaded  to  do 
so  by  the  officers  of  her  school  ? 

When  our  Lord  said,  «  Suffer  little  children 
to  come  unto  me,  and  forbid  them  not,"  I  be- 
lieve that  he  intended  girls  should  come  as  well 
as  boys.  The  friends  of  our  school  act  upon 
this  principle,  and  make  us  all  the  subjects  of 
their  care,  so  that  in  our  school  there  are  boys 
and  girls.  If  it  is  proper  that  the  boys  should 
be  represents  1  before  you,  surely  you  will  suffer 

45 


46  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SPEAKER. 


me  to  present  the  claims  of  the  girls,  in  wl  ose 
behalf  I  tender  to  you  all,  the  thanks  of  our 
youthful  hearts. 

Through  your  kindness  during  the  past  year, 
we  have  enjoyed  a  great  deal  of  happiness. 
From  Sabbath  to  Sabbath,  we  have  been  well 
instructed  in  the  school,  and  gathered  in  the  holy 
temple  of  our  God.  Your  liberal  attention  to 
our  mental  wants  has  given  us  a  well  furnished 
library,  to  which  we  resort  as  thirsty  pilgrims  to 
a  grateful  fountain.  Mindful  as  you  have  ever 
been,  we  doubt  not,  but  your  liberality  will  con- 
tinue to  supply  us  with  those  excellent  volumes 
which  are  so  amply  written  for  the  young. 

It  is  due  to  your  kindness  that  we  should 
acknowledge  that  the  needy  have  been  clothed, 
so  that  many  have  been  enabled  to  attend  who 
otherwise  would  be  deprived  of  this  inestimable 
enjoyment.  As  it  would  scarcely  be  proper  for 
one  of  these  children  to  appear  to  thank  you, 
and  as  it  is  proper  that  it  should  be  "  told  for  a 
memorial"  of  you,  I  consented  to  do  it  for  them. 
Ah !  dear  friends,  if  you  could  see  as  we  do, 
those  little  bright  eyes,  which  speak  the  happi- 
ness of  so  many  little  cheerful  hearts,  you  would 
feel,  indeed,  the  blessedness  of  doing  good ;  and 
if  .you  could  only  know,  in  how  great  a  degree 
vou  cause  light  to  arise  upon  the  darkness  of 
many  a  widow's  heart  and  home,  you  would 


ADDRESSES  BY  GIRLS. 


47 


assuredly  feel,  that  "pure  religion,  and  unde- 
filed  before  God  and  the  Father,  is  this,  to  visit 
the  fatherless  and  widow,  in  their  afflictions,  and 
to  keep  yourself  unspotted  from  the  world." 

"  Thus  grief  itself  has  comforts  dear, 
The  sordid  never  know, 
And  ecstacy  attends  the  tear, 
When  kindness  bids  it  flow." 

In  the  pulpit  and  elsewhere,  we  frequently 
hear  the  Sabbath  school -called  a  nursery.  Such 
it  Is.  Yes,  and  it  is  your  nursery,  too.  Chil- 
dren !  let  this  congregation  see  what  a  garden 
of  blossoms  is  before  them.  [Here  let  the  chil- 
dren all  rise  up.]  There,  dear  people,  see,  this 
is  your  nursery !  [Here  let  the  children  be 
seated  again.]  In  a  little  time  every  thrifty 
plant  will  be  transplanted  into  different  parts 
of  that  field  which  is  the  world.  Yes,  from  this 
very  nursery  may  be  raised,  if  not  a  Wesley, — 
Clark, — or  Sunimerfielct--if  not  a  Susannah 
Wesley,  a  Mrs.  Rogers,  or  a  Mrs.  Fletcher, 
there  will  go  forth  such  as  shall  adorn  the  reli- 
gion of  the  Saviour  in  the  life  of  the  "  man  of 
God,"  or  the  woman  adorned  with  godliness  and 
good  works.  I  have  said  the  nursery  is  yours. 
Cultivate  it  for  Him  who  sanctions  the  sentiment, 
that 

"  A  £ower  when  ofFer'd  in  the  bud, 
v  Is  no  mean  sacrifice." 


48  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SPEAKER. 


True,  the  nursery  is  the  Lord's.  But  ye  are 
the  labourers.  Our  teachers  will  weed  the  gar- 
den, and  sow  the  good  seed.  You,  dear  friends, 
must  water  it  with  prayers — and  tears — and 
smiles.  And  the  Lord,  we  believe,  by  giving 
the  increase,  will  enable  you  to  "  reap  in  jcj." 

"  The  virtuous  mind  embalm'd  in  truth, 
Shall  bloom  in  everlasting  youth, 
When  time  no  more  endures." 


ADDRESS  BY  A  GIRL. 


SUNDAY  SCHOOL  INSTRUCTION. 

Respected  Audience — 

Think  not  that  my  coming  before  this  assem- 
bly is  the  result  of  any  anxiety  of  my  own.  Our 
teachers  have  seen  proper  to  exact  this  service 
at  my  youthful  hands,  and  it  is  only  in  accord- 
ance with  th£ir  wishes  that  I  come  from  that 
retirement,  which,  even  on  this  occasion,  would 
be  preferable  to  me.  In  yielding  to  their  wishes 
I  am  constrained  by  considering  that  as  the 
children  most  largely  share  the  pleasures  of  this 
festival,  so  they  should  willingly  bear  a  portion 
of  its  responsibilities  and  labours. 

The  practical  duties  and  tendencies  of  the  Sab- 
bath school  are  so  hidden  from  the  public  view, 
that  it  app'ears  appropriate  on  these  anniversary 
occasions  to  open  our  gates,  that  the  public  may 
see  the  extensive  good  which  this  institution  is 
accomplishing. 

"The  kingdom  of  heaven  is  like  unto  leaven, 
which  a  woman  took,  and  hid  in  three  measures 
of  meal,  till  the  whole  was  leavened.' '  The 
Sunday  school  is  one  of  the  great  instrumentali- 

5  49 


50  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SPEAKER. 


ties  of  diffusing  the  kingdom  of  heaven;  its 
work  is  extensively  performed  by  women,  and 
greatly  hidden  from  the  public  view.  True,  the 
leaven  works  through  the  three  measures, — the 
family — the  Church — and  the  world.  In  the 
family,  the  influence  of  his  Sabbath  teaching 
acts  upon  the  child,  and  binds  the  young  affec- 
tions to  the  endearments  of  the  domestic  circle  ; 
in  the  Church,  those  scholars  often  become,  in 
maturer  years,  stable  christians  or  efficient  min- 
isters ;  while  in  the  community,  they  constitute 
that  portion  which  forms  the  bulwark  of  morality, 
and  promotes  the  well-being  of  society.  It  is, 
therefore,  proper  that  occasions  should  present, 
when  the  bushel  should  be  removed  from  the 
lamp,  and  when  the  unobscured  splendour  of  the 
Sunday  school  should  break  upon  the  public  eye, 

w  "  Full  orb'd, 

"  In  its  whole  round  of  ra}^s  complete." 

Every  dispensation  with  which  Divine  good- 
ness has  favoured  the  world,  has  included  chil- 
dren in  its  merciful  provisions.  Under  the 
Jewish  economy  God  said  to  his  people,  "  and 
these  words  which  I  command  thee  this  day, 
shall  be  in  thine  heart ;  and  thou  shalt  teach 
them  diligently  unto  thy  children,  and  shalt  talk 
of  them  when  thou  sittest  in  thine  house,  and 
when  thou  walkest  by  the  way,  and  when  thou 
liest  down,  and  when  thou  risest  up." 


ADDRESSES  BY  GIKLS. 


51 


Under  the  gospel  dispensation,  children 
equally  share  the  Divine  favour.  Even  in  the 
wilderness,  when  Jesus  fed  the  four  thousand 
men,  the  miracle  was  seen  and  shared  by  women 
and  children.  In  the  temple,  children  sang  his 
praises,  and  no  doubt  children  mingled  in  the 
multitude  that  listened  to  the  Saviour's  lovely 
sermon  upon  the  mount. 

What  though  we  cannot  go  with  him  upon 
the  mountain  to  take  of  that  bread  which  was 
given  to  the  multitude,  yet  knowing  that  man 
cannot  live  by  bread  alone,  we  can  ask  for  that 
living  bread  which  cometh  down  from  heaven. 
Although  we  cannot  gather  around  his  feet,  and 
hear  his  sermon  upon  the  mountain,  yet  in  the 
blessed  gospel  we  can  read  the  record  of  those 
who  heard  him,  and  in  the  Sabbath  school  we 
can  be  instructed  in  the  principles  which  Christ 
taught,  "  when  seeing  the  multitudes,  he  went 
up  into  a  mountain ;  and  when  he  was  set,  his 
disciples  came  unto  him.  And  he  opened  his 
mouth,  and  taught  them,  saying : 

"  Blessed  are  the  poor  in  spirit ;" 

[Here  let  all  the  children  respond.] 

"For  theirs  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven." 
Speaker.    "Blessed  are  they  that  mourn ;" 
Children.    "For  they  shall  be  comforted." 
Speaker.    "  Blessed  are  the  meek ;" 
Children.   "  For  they  shall  inherit  the  earth." 


52 


SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SPEAKER 


Speaker.  "Blessed  are  they  that  do  hunger 
and  thirst  after  righteousness  ;"■ 

Children.    "  For  they  shall  be  filled." 

Speaker.    "  Blessed  are  the  merciful ;" 

Children.    "  For  they  shall  obtain  mercy." 

Speaker.    "  Blessed  are  the  pure  in  heart ;" 

Children.    "For  they  shall  see  God." 

Speaker.    "  Blessed  are  the  peace-makers 

Children.  "For  they  shall  be  called  the 
children  of  God." 

Speaker.  "Blessed  are  they  which  are  per- 
secuted for  righteousness'  sake ;" 

Children.  "For  theirs  is  lthe  kingdom  of 
heaven." 

Speaker.  "Blessed  are  ye  when  men  shall 
revile  you,  and  persecute  you,  and  shall  say  all 
manner  of  evil  against  you  falsely,  for  my  sake ;" 

Children.  "  Rejoice,  and  be  exceeding  glad ; 
for  great  is  your  reward  in  heaven ;  for  so  per- 
secuted they  the  prophets  which  were  before 
you." 

Another  consideration  justifying  these  public 
demonstrations,  is,  that  they  afford  the  children 
an  opportunity  of  evincing  to  their  teachers  the 
high  appreciation  of  their  services.  Words,  it 
is  true,  cannot  express  this  regard ;  and,  know- 
ing that  the  satisfaction  indicated  in  the  counte- 
nances of  these  children,  will  far  better  denote 
the  gratitude  of  their  hearts,  I  shall  refrain  from 


ADDRESSES  BY  GIRLS 


53 


further  disturbing  the  delicacy  of  those  to  whose 
laborious  services  I  refer. 

In  conclusion  let  me  say  that  the  desire  of 
every  teacher  is  that  every  child  upon  the  earth, 
shall  enjoy  the  blessings  of  this  lovely  institu- 
tion, and  could  Sunday  school  teachers  be  heard 
by  the  children  of  the  wide  earth  they  would 
say— 

Seek  thou  to  know,  and  with  thy  heart  to  love, 
The  Lamb  that  died,  his  tenderness  to  prove ! 
Kind  will  he  speak,  as  man  can  never  speak, 
And  urge  the  young,  his  lovely  ways  to  seek. 
In  pure  religion  there  is  transport  sweet, 
Repose  from  sorrow  at  the  Saviour's  feet ; 
Religious  truth  he  plants  in  the  young  breast, 
And  dews  and  smiles  the  sacred  treasure  bless.  / 
Through  opening  years,  the  ripening  fruits  increase, 
And  yield  a  harvest  of  perenrual  peace. 
That  fruit  shall  live,  where  joys  shall  never  die, 
A  golden  harvest  in  a  glorious  sky. 


/ 


\ 


ADDRESS  BY  A  GIRL. 

SUNDAY  SCHOOL  INSTRUCTION. 

Respected  Friends- — 

The  return  of  Christmas  brings  with  it  a  re- 
turn of  gladness ;  so  that,  while  to  some  there 
may  appear  to  be  a  degree  of  sameness  in  these 
our  anniversary  exercises,  to  us  they  are  new, 
as  our  little  minds  expand,  more  fully  to  com- 
prehend the  goodness  of  our  heavenly  Father — 
the  kindness  of  our  earthly  parents,— and  the 
value  of  our  Sabbath  school. 

In  attempting  to  address  you,  dear  parents 
and"  friends,  I  need  hardly  ask  your  indulgence, 
for  you  must  know  how  difficult  it  is,  for  one 
little  tongue  to  tell  as  much  as  fills  three  hun- 
dred little  happy  hearts.  Why  only  look,  here 
are  children  who  are  permitted  to  say, 

How  blessed  are  our  eyes, 

That  see  this  heavenly  light ; 
Prophets  and  kings  desired  it  long, 

But  died  without  the  sight." 

And  some  of  these  children,  too,  are  orphans, 
-without  father,'  or  without  mother.    Like  the 
little  girl  who  used  to  sing  for  her  father,  and 
54 


ADDRESSES  BY  GIRLS.  65 

kt  ew  not  what  deatli  was.  When  he  lay  cold 
and  dead,  she  said: 

"  Mother,  how  still  my  father  lies ! 
I  cannot  hear  his  breath ; 
I  cannot  see  his  smiling  eyes, 
They  tell  me  this  is  death. 

My  little  work  I  thought  to  bring, 

And  sat  down  by  his  bed,  % 

And  pleasantly  I  tried  to  sing ; 
They  hush'd  me — he  is  dead. 

They  say  that  he  again  will  rise, 

More  beautiful  than  now ; — 
That  God  will  bless  him  in  the  skies — - 
^  O,  mother,  tell  me  how !" 

Surely  it  is  a  delightful  work  for  those 
teachers  to  explain  to  those  little  ones,  and  give 
them  that  instruction,  of  which  to  a  great  extent 
they  are  deprived  in  the  death  of  a  parent. 

Nor  are  orphans  alone  favored  in  this  insti- 
tution, for  we  are  all  taught  the  scriptures, 
"  which  \are  able  to  make  us  wise  unto  salva- 
tion." To  give  you  some  little  idea,  let  these 
children  speak  for  themselves.    Children — 

What  commands  to  man  are  given  1 
s  Ten  precepts  form  the  law  of  heaven* 

The  first,  dear  children,  let  me  hear  1 
One  only  God  shall  man  revere. 

The  second,  children,  do  you  know  1  j 
To  none  but  God  shall  any  bow. 

The  third,  come  children,  speak  again, 
Thou  shalt  not  take  his  name  in  vain. 


\ 


66 


SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SPEAKER. 


The  fourth  commandment  let  all  say, 
Remember  ye  the  Sabbath  day. 

The  fifth  commandment  do  you  know  ? 
Honor  thy  father— -mother  too* 

The  sixth  command  is  binding  still, 
And  that  declares  thou  shalt  not  kill. 

The  seventh,  what  does  it  portray  1 
Tj^at  purity  should  mark  our  way. 

The  eighth,  I'm  sure  you  all  can  tell ; 

It  says  to  man  thou  shalt  not  steal. 

The  ninth  commandment,  let  us  hear ; 
False  witness  thou  shalt  never  bear. 

The  tenth  commandment,  do  you  love  it  1 
We  do  s  for  it  forbids  to  covet. 

To  you,  dear  Superintendents  and  Teachers, 
I  cannot  refrain  from  rendering  my  expres- 
sions of  gratitude  and  encouragement."  You 
are  engaged  in  a  work,  for  the  reward  of  which, 
you  must  look  on  high.  %We  can  only  thank 
y$u.  0  think,  for  one  moment,  should  we, 
through  your  instrumentality,  be  brought  to 
know  Jesus  in  the  forgiveness  of  sins,  what  will 
be  ytfur  happiness  and  rejoicing  with  us  when 
"  together  caught  up  to  share  the  glory  of  the 
Lord  ?"  What  will  be  the  joy  of  these  children  ? 
Should  we  there  be  so  happy  as  to  meet  these 
our  parents — ministers— superintendents  and 
teachers,  who  have  here  labored  for  our  good, 
what  shall  we  say  ?  Children,  what  shall  we  do  ? 

[Here  wave  the  hand,  by  which  the  children  shall  all  ari* 
and  say,] 

We  will  "  rise  up  and  call  them  blessed  " 


f 


PART  III. 


DIALOGUES  BY  BOYS. 


DIALOGUE  BY  BOYS. 

RELIGION  IMPORTANT  TO  CHILDREN. 

William.  Good  morning,  George;  I  am 
pleased  to  meet  you ;  and  if  you  are  not  in 
haste,  I  have  a  few  questions  to  ask  you. 

George.  You  are  not  more  pleased  at  our 
meeting  than  I  am ;  and  any  conversation  that 
will  be  for  our  improvement,  will  be  a  pleasure 
to  me. 

William.  Tell  me,  then,  candidly,  George, 
do  you  think  there  is  any  use  in  our  attending 
Sabbath  school,  every  Sabbath  ? 

George.  Certainly  I  do;  for  the  Bible  says 
"Remember  the  Sabbath  day,  to  keep  it  holy/' 

William.  But  are  there  not  many  ways  in 
which  a  child  may  keep  the  Sabbath,  without 
attending  the  school  ? 

George.  Perhaps  there  are;  yet  no  child 
who  can  attend,  and  refuses  to  do  so,  will  be 
likely  to  keep  the  Sabbath.    Have  you  not 


60 


SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SPEAKER. 


observed  that  those  children  who  dislike  the 
school,  are  such  as  would  rather  play  in  the 
streets  or  trifle  away  their  time  at  home  ?  I  am 
aware  that  such  children  think  they  never  will 
be  greater  sinners ;  but  William,  you  may  de- 
pend upon  it,  that  none  are  so  effectually 
guarded  from  sin,  as  those  who  are  trained  up 
"in  the  way  they  should  go." 

William.  I  do  not  know,  George,  but  your 
opinion  may  be  correct,  still  I  must  confess  that 
I  am  sometimes  tempted  to  stay  away.  Indeed 
I  know  some  boys,  who  having  lost  their  fathers, 
are  not  watched  as  carefully  as  we,  and  I  often 
wonder  they  do  not  avoid  attending  the  school. 

Gilbert.  \_A  half  orphan  here  rises,  up,  say- 
ing,] It  is  because  we  have  still  greater  need  of 
the  watch  care  and  counsel  of  the  school. 

George.  As  no  children  are  more  exposed, 
so  none  have  more  need  of  protection. 

Louisa.  [Another  orphan  rises  up,  saying,] 
Yes,  and  to  be  deprived  of  the  benefit  of  the 
Sabbath  school,  would  be  to  lose  a  great  part  of 
the  consolation  with  which  Providence  tempers 
our  affliction. 

William.  "Well,  George,  you  will  surely 
allow  that  there  is  less  necessity  for  the  attend- 
ance of  children  of  wealthy  parents,  as  they  can 
attend  every  day  at  the  best  schools. 

George.    In  that  I  differ  from  you,  greatly. 


» 


DIALOGUES  BY  BOYS 


61 


The  blessings  of  education  are  so  widely  diffused 
throughout  our  highly  favoured  country,  that 
almost  every  child  may  enjoy  them.  Even  if 
this  were  not  the  case,  yet  the  instruction  given 
in  the  Sabbath  school  is  essential  to  salvation. 
And  as  it  is  alike  the  privilege  of  the  rich  and 
the  poor  to  enjoy  that  salvation,  so  it  is  equally 
the  duty  of  all  to  attend  the  means. 

William,  Salvation,  George  !  You  speak  of 
that  as  though  it  was  a  matter  of  importance  to 
children.  Will  it  not  be  time  enough  for  that 
when  we  are  older  ? 

(xeorge.  Surely,  William,  you  cannot  have 
forgotten  what  is  so  repeatedly  urged  upon  us 
at  school.  There  it  is  frequently  urged  upon 
us  to  consider  the  scripture  which  says,  "  Re- 
member now  thy  Creator,  in  the  days  of  thy 
youth,  while  the  evil  days  come  not,  nor  the 
years  draw  nigh,  when  thou  shalt  say  I  have  no 
pleasure  in  them."  Consider,  too,  how  often 
we  are  told,  u  I  love  them  that  love  me,  and 
those  that  seek  me  early  shall  find  me."  Our 
hearts  are  evil,  and  we  cannot  too  early  seek  to 
have  them  made  pure. 

William.    But  do  you  think  that  a  child  has 
an  evil  heart  ? 
•  George/*' TIow  can  I  doubt  it,  when  God  says 
"the  imagination  of  man's  heart  is  evil  from 
bis  youth?" 

6 


62  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SPEAKER, 


William.  Did  you  ever  read  in  the  Bible  of 
any  children  who  did  evil  ? 

Creorge.  Yes,  of  many.  You  certainly  re- 
member the  sons  of  Jacob,  and  how  they  hated 
their  brother  Joseph — stripped  him  of  his  coat 
of  many  colours — sold  him  to  be  a  slave  in  a 
land  of  strangers — and  had  not  Providence 
defeated  their  wicked  designs,  they  would,  have 
brought  their  father's  «  grey  hairs  down  with 
sorrow  to  the  grave.' ' 

William.  Yes,  I  remember  them.  But  I 
wonder  why  they  should  so  have  hated  their 
brother. 

John.  [Rising  up  and  saying  very  loud,']  May 
it  not  have  been  that  Joseph  was,  as  some  boys 
are  now-a-days,  very  proud  of  his  fine  coat  ? 

Gfeorge.  That  could  not  have  been,  as  Joseph 
was  a  most  humble  youth.  Humility  and  pride 
could  not  exist  together. 

William.  There  may  have  been  something 
to  have  excited  their  envy. 

Isaac.  [Rising  up  and  saying  aloud,]  May 
it  not  have  been  that  Jacob  thought  more  of 
J oseph  than  his  other  children  ?  The  partiality 
of  parents  always  makes  mischief. 

Creorge.  But  older  children  should  never  be 
envious  if  those  who  are  of  a  more  tender  age, 
are  more  tenderly  treated. 

Mary.    [Rising  up,  and  speaMng  promptly 


DIALOGUES  BY  BOYS. 


63 


and  aloud. 1  I  think  there  were  too  many  boys  in 
that  family.    If  there  had  been  some  sisters ' 
among  them  the  boys  would  have  done  better. 

George.  However  that  might  have  been, 
still  their  conduct  shows  the  great  depravity  of 
their  hearts ;  a  depravity  common  to  all,  both 
girls  and  boys,  as  it  is  written  "  they  are  all 
gone  out  of  the  way ;  they  are  together  become' 
unprofitable  ;  there  is  none  that  doeth  good,  no, 
not  one."  You  may  rely  upon  it,  William,  that 
if  we  are  not  actually  engaged  in  well-doing, 
we  shall  be  more  likely  to  go  into  the  way  of 
evil.  Those  children  who  are  attentive  to  the 
Sabbath  school  will  be  profitably  employed — 
faithfully  and  religiously  instructed — and  their 
tender  minds,  instead  of  appearing  like  a  garden 
overspread  with  weeds,,  and  thorns,  and  tares, 
will  receive  that  good  seed  which  shall  bring 
"forth  fruit,  thirty,  sixty,  and  a  hundred 
fold/' 

William.  I  believe,  George,  that  you  are 
right ;  although  there  may  appear  to  be  some 
restraint  and  confinement  in  the  regular  man- 
ner in  which  these  Sabbath  duties  are  exacted, 
the  sacrifice  will  be  compensated  in  a  blessed 
reward.  The  suggestions  I  have  made,  are 
more  the  remarks  of  other  children  than  the 
convictions  of  my  own  mind,  and  I  trusty  as  th© 


64  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SPEAKER. 


result  of  our  present  conversation,  we  shall  all 
be  more  diligent  in  improving  a  privilege  so 
great,  as  that  of  spending  God's  holy  day  in 
the  pleasures  and  blessings  of  the  Sunday 
school. 


DIALOGUE  BY  BOYS. 


IMPORTANCE  OF  RELIGIOUSLY  INSTRUCTING  XHl 

YOUNG. 

Robert.  Thomas,  I  am  glad  that  I  have  met 
with  you,  as  I  perceive  that  you  still  attend  the 
Sabbath  school. 

Thomas.  Yes,  Bobert,  I  am  still  in  the 
school,  though  to  be  candid  with  you  my  attend- 
ance is  not  a  little  owing  to  the  persuasion  and 
perseverance  of  my  parents,  who  look  more  at 
my  future  benefit  than  at  my  present  inclina- 
tion. I  know  many  boys  who  do  not  attend 
the  school,  and  are  they  not  doing  as  well  as  we 
are? 

Robert.  They  are  not ;  nor  can  I  see  why 
any  child  should  wish  to  stay  away,  when  know- 
ledge is  of  so  much  advantage,  and  when  at  the 
Sabbath  school  it  is  so  freely  obtained. 

Thomas.  Why,  Bobert,  there  is  Charles 
Careless,  who  lives  in  our  neighbourhood,  who 
never  goes  to  Sabbath  school,  and  scarcely  ever 
to  church.  You  may  see  him  almost  every  Sab- 
bath, taking  what  he  calls  his  recreation.  He 
Bays  his  father  thinks  there  is  no  need  of  send- 

6*  65 


66 


SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SPEAKER, 


ing  a  child  to  Sabbath  school.  He  says  it  gives 
them  a  bias  in  favour  of  religion,  and  in  his 
opinion  they  ought  to  be  left  free  from  such  bias 
until  they  are  of  mature  age. 

Robert.  Ah,  Thomas,  that  is  a  strange  and 
fatal  error !  Because  God  has  created  us  with 
the  power  of  choice,  these  parents  would  leave 
their  children  without  the  light  and  instruction 
which  are  essential  to  enable  us  to  make  a  cor- 
rect choice. 

Thomas.  Then  you  really  conceive,  Robert, 
that  it  is  proper  for  parents  to  place  their  chil- 
dren where  they  may  receive  good  and  whole- 
some instruction. 

Robert.  By  all  means,  Thomas.  What  would 
you  think  of  a  shepherd,  whose  care  should  be 
specially  directed  to  the  protection  of  the  lambs 
of  his  flock,  who  would  throw  down  the  fences 
of  his  fold,  and  leave  the  inexperienced  lamb  to 
exercise  its  own  judgment,  either  to  remain 
within  the  fold,  or  to  wander  off  to  the  path  and 
the  den  of  the  wolf?  Do  you  not  think  that 
the  wolf  would  try  to  give  a  bias  to  the  lamb, 
Thomas?  ' 

Thomas.  Yes  ;  for  I  know  it  is  the  practice 
of  all  enemies  to  seek  to  betray  and  decoy  those 
whom  they  would  destroy. 

Robert.  Well,  Thomas,  ought  not  those  whose 
duty  it  is  to  protect  them,  to  be  equally  indus- 


DIALOGUES  BY  BOYS. 


67 


Irious  ?  Is  it  not  the  duty  of  earthly  parents 
io  "  give  good  gifts"  unto  their  children  ?  Surely 
those  porents  who  withhold  religious  instruction 
from  their  children,  are  giving  them  u  stones  for 
bread,"  and  "  scorpions  for  fish."  If  God  feeds 
the  young  ravens,  we  are  of  more  value  than 
they,  and  God  will  feed  us.  As  it  is  the  duty 
of  parents  to  provide  for  their  own  household, 
@ur  parents  should  not  only  labour  to  give  us 
^the  bread  that  perisheth,"  but  they  should 
place  us  in  such  situations  as  will  be  most  likely 
to  bring  us  the  meat  that  shall  endure  unto  ever- 
lasting life.  Even  the  eagle  watcheth  over  her 
young,  and  beareth  and  feedeth  them. 

Thomas.  But,  Robert,  may  not  the  instruc- 
tion of  which  you  speak  be  obtained  without 
going  to  Sabbath  school?  Then,  again,  there 
are  some,  you  know,  who  think  we  ought  not  to  v 
read  the  Bible,  as  it  contains  so  many  mysteries 
which  a  child  cannot  understand. 

Robert.  I  know  it  does,  Thomas.  But  the 
world  itself  is  Ml  of  mvsteries.  I  used,  when 
I  was  small,  to  think  it  strange  how  people  could 
tell  the  time  of  day  by  a  watch — or  when  the 
tide  was  high  or  low  by  looking  into  an  almanac ; 
and  I  never  could  tell  how  the  man  found  it  out 
who  put  it  into  the  almanac.  I  cannot  tell  how 
it  is  that  those  flowers  which  are  called  four- 
©'clocks,  and  morning  glories,  open  and  shut  as 


68 


SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SPEAKER. 


they  do.  There  are  many  other  things  which  I 
do  not  understand ;  but  this  is  no  reason  why  I 
should  wish  to  be  smitten  with  blindness,  or  to 
be  surrounded  with  perpetual  night,  through 
fear  of  seeing  things  which  I  cannot  understand. 
Besides  this,  Thomas,  there  are  many  things  in 
the  Bible  which  I  once  could  not  understand, 
though  I  now  perceive  them  plainly.  There  are 
many  subjects  referred  to  in  the  Bible  which  we 
now  know  only  in  part,  which  hereafter  we  will 
know  more  perfectly. 

Isaac.  [Rising  up,  and  speaking  aloud.] 
Why,  little  as  I  am,  there  are  many  things  in 
the  Bible  which  I  understand,  though  there  are 
many  things  in  nature  which  I  do  not  under- 
stand. 

Thomas.  What  is  there  in  nature  that  you 
do  not  understand,  Isaac  ? 

Isaac.  Why,  I'll  tell  you.  Now  you  know 
that  if  you  cut  a  water-melon  open  you  will 
find  hundreds  of  seeds ;  I  never  could  tell  how 
those  seeds  get  inside. 

Thomas.    Why,  they  grow  there,  Isaac. 

Isaac.  Yes,  yes ;  I  know  that,  but  how  do 
they  grow  ?  Then,  again,  here  is  this  cocoa- 
nut  ;  it  is  full  of  milk.  I  never  could  tell  how 
the  milk  gets  there.  When  the  cocoa-nut  was 
small,  no  bigger  than  a  marble,  there  was  scarcely 
a  drop  of  milk  in  it,  and  now  there  is  nearly  a 


DIALOGUES  BY  BOYS.  69 
I 

tea-cup  full,  though  the  cocoa-nut  has  been  tight 
shut  ever  since. 

Thomas.    Why,  it  grows  there,  Isaac. 

Isaac.  Well,  I  suppose  it  does,  but  I  do  not 
understand  it. 

Robert.  Tell  us,  Isaac,  what  is  there  in  tha 
Bible  that  you  know. 

Isaac.  I  know  that  God  says,  in  the  Bible, 
"  I  love  them  that  love  me,  and  they  that  seek 
me  early  shall  find  me." 

Thomas,  Then,  Bobert,  you  are  of  opinion 
that  all  people  should  have  the  Bible,  and  espe- 
cially children. 

Robert.  Certainly  ;  and  I  am  the  more  firm 
in  that  opinion,  as  I  believe  it  is  the  wish  of 
Satan  to  keep  the  Bible  from  us,  "  lest  the  light 
of  the  glorious  gospel  of  Christ,  who  is  the 
image  of  God,  should  shine' '  unto  us.  On  the 
other  hand,  "  it  is  good  and  acceptable  in  the 
sight  of  God  our  Saviour,  who  will  have  all 
men  to  be  saved  and  come  to  the  knowledge  of 
the  truth  as  it  is  in  Christ,' '  that  children  should 
)bb  nurtured  and  admonished  by  his  word.  Paul 
would  have  Timothy  remember,  that  from  a  child 
thou  hast  "known  the  holy  scriptures,  which 
are  able  to  mako  thee  wise  unto  salvation." 
The  Saviour,  who  was  once  a  child  as  we  are, 
grew  in  knowledge  as  well  as  stature,  and  if 
like  liim  we  would  grow  in  favour  with  God  and 


TO 


SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SPEAKER. 


man,  we  must  have  our  hearts  controlled  by  the 
word  of  the  Lord,  and  we  may  rest  assured,  the 
most  effectual  way  of  bringing  up  children  to 
pursue  a  virtuous  course,  is  to  train  them  up  in 
the  way  they  should  go,  that  when  they  are  old 
they  may  not  "  depart  therefrom."  Wisdom's 
«  ways  are  pleasantness,  and  all  her  paths  are 
peace."  0,  Thomas  !  Let  us  rather  pity  than 
envy  those  children  who  are  strangers  to  the 
Sabbath  school,  and  to  the  sanctuary  of  God, 
To  such  let  every  scholar  say  [Here  let  all  the 
children  repeat,]  "  Come  thou  and  go  with  us? 
and  we  will  do  thee  good." 


DIALOGUE  BY  BOYS. 


THE  EXPOSURES  AND  PROTECTION  OF  THE  YOUNG, 

Andrew.  B  xchard,  I  am  happy  in  meeting 
you  this  morning ;  and  according  to  the  custom 
of  the  season,  I  wish  you  a  most  happy  Christ- 
mas. 

Richard.  Andrew,  accept  my  thanks  for 
your  good  wishes,  and  permit  me  in  return  to 
express  my  desire  that  you  may  be  happy  not 
only  upon  Christmas  day,  but  throughout  "  the 
life  that  now  is,  and  that  which  is  to  come." 

Andrew.  The  life  to  come,  Bichard  ?  That 
is  a  subject  connected  with  religion  ;  and  do  you 
think  that  I  am  old  enough  to  understand  much 
upon  that  subject  ? 

Richard.  Can  you  doubt  it,  Andrew  ?  Let 
me  ask  you,  how  old  are  you  ? 

Andrew.    I  am  seven  years  old. 

Richard.  Certainly,  then,  you  are  of  suffi- 
cient age  to  "remember  your  Creator."  You 
know  that  it  is  from  God  you  derive  all  your 
blessings,  and  with  such  knowledge  it  is  your 
duty  to  love  him. 

Andrew.    But,  Bichard,  have  you  any  know- 

71 


72  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SPEAKE&. 

I 

ledge  of  any  who  in  childhood  have  been  reli- 
gious ? 

Richard.  Yes,  many.  Samuel  was  early 
called  to  he  a  servant  of  the  Lord,  and  Oba« 
diah  "feared  the  Lord  from  his  youth,"  And 
why  should  not  children  love^  and  serVe  their 
Lord,  for  he  is  their  Father  ?  And  if  he  required 
Abraham  to  offer  his  children  at  eight  days  of 
age,  is  he  pleased  with  those  who  remain  so 
many  years  without  knowing  him  ?  He  feeds 
the  ravens,  and  hears  the  cry  of  the  sparrow? 
and  if  children  are  of  more  value  than  many 
sparrows,  then  God  will  hear  their  cry,  and  feed 
them  with  the  bread  of  eternal  life. 

Andrew.  I  suppose,  Richard,  this  is  what 
you  learn  at  Sabbath  school  ? 

Richard.  It  is  true,  Andrew,  I  learn  it  at 
Sabbath  school,  but  not  there  alone.  Yet  it 
would  be  strange,  Andrew,  if  we  should  attend 
the  Sabbath  school,  and  not  be  instructed  in  the 
things  which  make  for  our  peace. 

Andrew.  May  we  not  learn  as  much  at  home, 
and  by  attending  church,  as  by  going  to  Sabbath 
school  ? 

Richard.  To  attend  the  church,  is  undoubt- 
edly of  the  first  importance,  and  it  was  never 
intended  that  the  Sabbath  school  should  super- 
sede any  other  method  of  instruction,  or  take 
the  place  of  that  mode  of  worship  which  is  due 


DIALOGUES  BY  BOYS. 


73 


fro  God,  ,nd  which  should  be  rendered  in  hia 
holy  temple;  yet,  Andrew,  any  child  fond  of 
the  church  should  be  fond  of  the  Sabbath  school. 

Andrew.  But  you  are  aware,  Richard,  that 
Sabbath  schools  have  only  been  in  existence  a 
short  time,  and  but  few  of  our  parents  have  ever 
been  scholars  in  them,  and  have  not  they  done 
well  enough  without  such  schools  ? 

Richard.  That  is  no  argument  against  the 
usefulness  of  Sabbath  schools,  nor  is  it  any  rea- 
son why  we  should  not  attend  them.  A  Jew 
might  as  well  have  answered  our  Lord,  and  his 
apostles,  by  saying,  we  have  no  need  of  you  as 
a  teacher.  Our  fathers  got  along  without  the 
religion  of  the  New  Testament,  and  so  may  we. 

[Here  let  William  rise  up  and  say,  aloud  J 

William.  Yes,  and  a  boy  might  as  well  say, 
his  grandfather  got  along  well  enough  without 
steamboats  and  railroads,  and  therefore  we  had 
better  keep  to  the  old  sloops  and  stages. 

Eichard.  Yes,  Andrew,  your  reasoning 
would  go  against  all  improvements.  And  you 
should  consider,  too,  that  we  have  greater  need 
than  our  parents  had  when  thev  were  children, 
of  every  means  of  instruction  to  lead  us  in  the 
way  of  truth,  and  to  save  us  from  vice. 

Andrew.  Is  that  possible,  Richard,  when 
there  is  so  much  done  in  behalf  of  children  ?  . 

Richard.    Certainly,  it  is  possible,  Andrew, 

7 


74  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SPEAKER. 

if  children  are  not  willing  to  be  placed  under 
the  influence  of  those  benefits. 

Andrew.  Do  you  suppose,  Richard,  that  the 
times  in  which  we  live  are  more  immoral  than 
the  times  in  which  our  parents  were  children  ? 

Richard.  When  I  hear  our  parents  and 
others  converse  upon  this  subject,  I  cannot 
doubt  it,  especially  with  reference  to  cities, 
where  evil  temptations  and  examples  are  fear- 
fully and  rapidly  increasing. 

Andrew.  What,  Richard,  do  you  particularly 
mean  ? 

Richard.  Why,  I  have  been  told  that  some 
years  ago,  it  was  the  common  custom  for  alder- 
men and  Sunday  officers,  to  send  all  boys  home 
whom  they  found  gathering  for  play  about  the 
corners  or  in  the  streets.  All  stores  were  closed, 
and  the  authorities  were  very  rigid ;  but  now, 
alas !  how  frequently  do  we  see  boys  playing 
marbles,  whistling,  swearing,  and  gathering,  as 
if  the  Lord's  day  had  no  sanctity.  Stores  are 
open  in  many  parts  of  the  city,  liquor  and  fruit 
are  sold  in  abundance,  and  every  temptation 
afforded  to  ruin  the  dissipated  and  corrupt  the 
young. 

Andrew.  I  agree  with  you,  Richard,  that 
the  effect  of  such  things  must  be  most  destruc- 
tive. And  such  profanity  !  I  acknowledge  to 
you,  Richard,  that  when  I  remember  that  God 


DIALOGUES  BY  BOYS. 


75 


says,  "  Thou  shall  not  take  the  name  of  the 
Lord  thy  God  in  vain,"  and  when  I  remember 
he  poured  out  his  wrath  upon  Sodom  and  Go- 
morrah, I  am  astonished  at  his  forbearance,  and 
wonder  that  he  does  not  come  out  in  judgment 
against  these  evil  doers. 

Richard.  It  is  because  he  is  "  slow  to  anger, 
and  of  great  kindness,"  Andrew,  that  such  are 
not  consumed.  Rather  than  visit  them  in  judg- 
ment, he  visits  them  in  mercy. 

"  He  never  takes  the  harsher  way, 
When  love  will  do  the  deed." 

Hence  it  is  that  the  Sabbath  school  is  given 
to  shelter  us  from  this  storm  of  iniquity.  So 
that  where  "  sin  hath  abounded,  grace  has  much 
more  abounded.5'  But  what  shall  we  think  of 
those  men  who  keep  open  their  stores  and  shops 
upon  the  Sabbath  day  ? 

Henry.  [Rising  up.]  Ill  tell  you  what  I 
think.  It  is  a  great  pity  those  men  had  not 
gone  to  Sabbath  school  when  they  were  children. 
They  would  have  been  taught  better. 

Richard.  And  what  shall  we  think  of  those 
boys  who  are  seen  going  in  groups  on  a  Sabbath5 
with  their  balls  and  bats,  and  skates  ?  Neglect- 
ing the  church  and  the  school,  they  are  left  to 
themselves. 

Emma.   [Rising  up.]   I  think  of  such,  with 


76  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SPEAKER. 

» 

Solomon,  "  a  child  left  to  himself,  bringeth  his 
mother  to  shame.' ' 

Andrew.  I  think,  Eichard,  you  are  right, 
and  that  it  is  the  duty  of  children  to  "  fear  the 
Lord,  and  keep  his  commandments." 

.Richard.  Yes,  Andrew,  and  think  of  the 
Holy  child  J esus,  for  while  it  is  written  that 
man  his  whole  life  was  good,  and  as  God,  «  he 
did  all  things  well,"  it  is  said  of  the  child,  yes, 
Andrew,  of  the  child  Jesus,  that  he  "  grew  in 
knowledge,  and  increased  in  favour  with  God 
and  man."  And  look  at  Washington,  the  brave, 
the  wise,  the  virtuous  Washington,  the  father 
of  our  country.  When  only  a  few  years  old,  he 
feared  his  God,  and  scorned  to  tell  a  lie. 

Andrew.  Think  not,  Richard,  that  I  ex 
pressed  myself  through  any  doubts  of  the  ex- 
cellency of  the  Sabbath  school,  for  I  have  often 
found  it  good  to  be  there.  I  am  glad  that  the 
Sabbath  school  has  so  warm  a  place  in  your 
affections.  Here  is  my  heart,  and  here  is  my 
hand,  my  dear  young  friend,  pledged  with  you 
in  this  delightful  work ;  and  these  children,  in 
love  of  their  God,  will  unite  with  me  in  singing, 

[Here  let  all  sing—"  O  the  place  !"] 

"  Together  let  us  sweetly  live, 
Together  let  us  die  ; 
And  each  a  starry  crown  receive, 
And  reign  above  the  sky." 


DIALOGUE  BY  BOYS 


THE  RISE  AND  ADVANTAGES  OF  SUNDAY  SCHOOLS. 

Charles.  Here  we  are  again,  Henry,  in  the 
midst  of  our  Sunday  school  celebration,  and  I 
suppose  you  are  much  gratified. 

Henry.  I  am,  indeed;  and  in  return  say 
that  I  trust  it  is  no  less  pleasing  to  you. 

Qharles.  Why,  yes,  it  is  pleasant;  but  do 
you  not  think  that  children  are  too  young  to 
have  their  attention  so  earnestly  directed  to  the 
subject  of  religion  ? 

Henry.  By  no  means,  Charles ;  and  when 
we  consider  the  many  exposures  of  children,  we 
ought  to  desire  that  they  should  have  every 
protection  which  those  who  are  older  can  afford, 
them. 

Charles.  But  Sabbath  schools,  however,  have> 
not  always  been  in  existence,  you  are  aware. 

Henry.  t  True,  neither  have  children  always 
had  the  same  exposures.  As  infidelity  directed 
its  efforts  to  decoy  the  young,  it  was  providen- 
tial that  this  institution  had  reared  its  walls  for 
the  defence  of  youth. 

7*  77 


78  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SPEAKER 


Charles.  Where  was  the  first  Sabbath  school 
formed  ? 

Henry.  In  Great  Britain — in  the  city  of 
Gloucester. 

Charles.    At  what  time  was  it  commenced  ? 

Henry.    In  the  year  1771,  just  years 

since. 

Charles.  Who  was  Mr.  Raikes,  the  cele- 
brated founder  ? 

Henry.  Robert  Raikes,  was  a  gentleman  of 
Gloucester,  and  by  trade  a  Printer.  He  was 
one  morning  walking  in  the  outer  parts  of  the 
city,  searching  for  a  suitable  person  to  serve 
him  as  a  gardener.  During  this  walk  his  atten- 
tion was  drawn  to  the  great  number  of  little 
boys,  whose  offensive  conduct  and  profane  lan- 
guage shocked  his  feelings  and  excited  his  com- 
miseration. Upon  expressing  his  surprise  to 
an  old  lady,  in  the  neighbourhood,  she  informed 
him,  that  much  worse  conduct  was  to  be  seen, 
and  more  shocking  language  to  be  heard,  on 
almost  every  Sabbath,  when  they  assembled  in 
great  numbers.  After  much  reflection  upon  the 
subject,  he  determined  to  make  an  effort  for 
their  improvement,  and  employed  four  old  ladies 
to  teach  them  at  his  own  expense.  So  perfectly 
did  the  experiment  succeed,  that  under  the 
favour  of  Providence,  in  a  little  time  similar 
schools  were  extended  throughout  the  kingdom. 


DIALOGUES  BY  BOYS. 


79 


Charles.  Why  is  it  that  they  do  not  pay  the 
teachers  now  ? 

Henry.  Mr.  Wesley  was  the  first  to  adopt 
the  present  and  gratuitous  plan.  He  thought 
it  would  be  a  profitable  and  delightful  work  in 
which  to  engage  persons  with  religious  and 
benevolent  feelings.  This  improvement  by  Mr. 
Wesley,  has  become  generally  adopted.  One 
of  its  great  advantages  is,  that  it  contributes  to 
the  piety  and  usefulness  of  an  army  of  young 
professors  of  Christianity,  and  brings  into  requi- 
sition much  of  the  talent  and  piety  of  the 
church,  training  up,  in  more  than  Spartan 
vigour,  armies  for  God,  that  in  their  turn  may 
be  active  in  seeking  the  demolition  of  the  king- 
dom of  darkness.  I  suppose,  Charles,  you  are 
aware  of  the  commencement  of  Sabbath  schools, 
in  our  own  country? 

Henry.  I  believe  I  am.  The  first  Sunday 
school  formed  in  the  United  States,  was  in 
Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania. 

Charles.    At  what  time  was  it  commenced  ? 

Henry.  In  the  year  1807.  The  next  school 
was  opened  in  the  city  of  New  York,  in  1814, 
and  about  the  same  time,  a  school  was  com 
menced  in  Philadelphia,  in  the  Masonic  hall  in 
Chesnut  street.  The  first  scholar  in  Philadel- 
phia was  an  old  woman,  who  desired  to  learn  to 
read  the  Bible,  though  fifty-two  years  of  age. 


80 


SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SPEAKER. 


Charles.  And  now  there  are  hundreds  of 
thousands  of  these  schools,  and  millions  of 
children  enjoying  their  benefits.  ,  0 !  it  is  a 
pleasing,  glorious  thought,  that  our  joy  to-day, 
is  the  joy  of  millions!  While  we,  and  others 
upon  earth,  are  walking  in  these  lovely  paths, 
who  can  tell  the  number  of  those  who  are  now 
sharing  in  heaven,  that  blessedness  to  which  the 
Sabbath  school  can  lead  as  an  agency  of  grace. 

Henry.  Then  you  really  think,  Charles, 
that  children,  who  are  the  care  of  the  Sabbath 
school,  should  be  the  care  of  the  Church,  as  they 
are  the  care  of  the  Saviour  ? 

Charles.  Certainly  I  do.  Let  me  ask,  who 
are  the  subjects  of  the  kingdom  of  heaven  ? 

[Here  let  all  the  school  answer,  aloud,] 

Little  children ! 

Charles.  Who  are  the  lambs  of  that  flock  he 
purchased  with  his  own  blood,  and  whom  he 
required  his  Church  to  feed  ? 

All.    Children ! 

Charles.  Who  were  those  whose  praises  filled 
the  temple,  when  the  Saviour  approved  of  their 
hosannahs  ? 

All.  Children! 

Henry.  True  it  is,  Charles,  that  children 
are  included  among  his  people  "  and  the  sheep 
of  his  pasture  are  we;"  and  it  becomes  us  with 


4 


DIALO&UES  BY  BOYS.  81 

ftll  earnestness  to  improve  an  institution  afford- 
ing us  such  great  inducements  to  "fear  God  and 
keep  his  commandments.' ' 

Charles.  In  so  doing  we  shall  not  only 
ienote  the  truest  wisdom,  but  will  evince  be- 
coming gratitude  to  our  Great  Shepherd,  even 
our  Saviour,  and  shall  cherish  a  grateful  appre- 
ciation of  the  beloved  memory  of  the  honoured 
Raikes. 

While  earth  shall  love  to  hold  the  j 

In  memory  young  and  bright ; 
His  name,  to  purest  fame  a  trust, 

Shall  give  the  young  delight. 
The  name  of  Raikes  shall  ever  live, 
While  Sunday  schools  their  blessings  give. 

Like  Franklin  he  high  fix'd  the  eye, 

On  scenes  before  unknown, 
And  from  the  altars  of  the  sky, 

Brought  living  glory  down. 
'Twas  his  that  fire  to  kindle  first, 
'Tis  ours  to  guard  the  sacred  trust. 

To  distant  lands  that  flame  shall  burn, 

And  break  the  gloom  of  error's  night, 
Till  every  land  to  God  shall  turn, 

And  earth  rejoice  in  Eden's  light : 
The  Sabbath  school  her  walls  shall  raise, 
And  all  her  gates  be  filled  with  praise. 


DIALOGUE  BY  BOYS. 

THE  TEMPERANCE  PLEDGE. 

Henry..  Where  now,  Charles?  Why  are 
you  in  such  haste,  that  you  can  scarcely  see  a 
young  friend  ? 

Charles.  I  am  going  to  the  temperance 
meeting,  Henry.  Perhaps  you  will  go  with 
me. 

Henry.  Not  I,  indeed.  I  go  to  no  such 
places. 

Charles.  Sorry  I  am  to  hear  it,  Henry. 
But  why  is  it  that  you  go  to  no  such  places  ? 

Henry.  Mostly  because  my  father  objects. 
He  says  they  are  pushing  their  temperance 
proceedings  too  far. 

Charles.  Your  father  object !  0  !  how  cau-' 
tious. should  fathers  be  in  the  advice  they  give 
their  children.  He  thinks,  too,  they  are  push- 
ing the  temperance  cause  too  far.  It  must  be 
pushed  far  if  it  ever  reaches  the  evil  it  seeks  to 
overthrow.  How  far  that  evil  has  gone!  It 
turns  the  fruit  and  grain  which  God  has  given 
for  the  support  of  nature,  into  poison  most 
deadly — it  impoverishes  families, '  and  pushes 
82 


DIALOGUES  BY  BOYS 


83 


many  a  wife  with  her  children  into  want  and 
wretchedness.  It  perverts  society,  and  pushes 
justice  from  her  seat.  The  fires  of  its  wasting 
have  swept  over  the  land,  and  its  wrecks  have 
been  scattered  on  the  waves  of  every  sea.  Push 
temperance  matters  as  far  as  you  may,  and  still 
beyond,  you  will  find  scenes  of  desolation  as 
fearful  as  the  plains  over  which  have  rolled  the 
ponderous  wheels  of  the  car  of  Jugurnot,  until 
the  eye  dims  in  the  tears  that  flow  in  view  of 
the  direful  vision. 

Henry.  But  what  good  can  children  do  in 
such  a  cause?  • 

Charles.  Much  every  way.  They  can  have 
their  minds  instructed  in  relation  to  an  evil 
which  opens  its  tempting  paths  to  all.  It  was 
in  his  childhood,  that  Hannibal,  the  great  Car- 
thagenian  soldier,  was  urged  by  Hamilcar,  his 
father,  to  swear  "  eternal  enmity  to  Rome/' 
If  the  young  can  be  brought  to  see  the  enormi- 
ties of  intemperance,  they  may  be  trained  up  in 
the  hatred  of  a  monster  more  powerful  for  evil 
than  were  the  legions  of  ancient  Rome. 

Henry.  But  is  it  not  better  to  let  the  men 
take  hold  of  the  evil  ? 

Charles.  There  are  times,  Henry,  when  the 
stones  may  cry  out ;  times,  when  even  a  little 
David  may  go  down  to  Israel's  camp,  and  meet 
a  giant  with  stones  from  a  brook  of  cold  water. 


84  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SPEAKER. 


St.  Paul's  nephew  sounded  the  alarm,  though  a 
mere  lad,  by  which  the  jailer  was  enabled  to 
save  the  life  of  the  great  apostle  from  the  hands 
of  assassins.  A  little  boy  carried  the  loaves 
and  fishes  with  which  the  thousands  were  fed  in 
the  wilderness. 

Benjamin.  [Rising  up,  and  speaking  aloud.] 
Yes,  and  many  a  boy  has  been  made  to  carry 
the  bottle  for  his  father;  so  that  boys  some- 
times have  something  to  do  with  pushing  these 
matters.  « 

Henry.  You  certainly  do  not  suppose  that 
I  would  be  seen  doing  any  such  act. 

•  Benjamin.  By  no  means,  Henry ;  yet,  if 
you  would  disdain  carrying  a  bottle,  .why  not 
unite  with  us  in  efforts  to  stop  the  traffic. 
Many  a  poor  boy,  Henry,  has  been  compelled 
to  carry  the  bottle,  when  he  knew  that  its  con- 
tents would  brutalize  his  father,  and  bring  upon 
his  mother,  sorrow  that  would  finally  break  her 
heart.- 

Ellen.  [Rising  up.]  Yes,  and  little  girls 
have  sometimes  had  to  carry  the  bottle. 

Sophia.  [Rising  up.]  You  would  never  catch 
me  carrying  a  bottle. 

Henry.  How  would  you  prevent  it,  if  your 
father  sent  you  ? 

Mien.  Why,  I  would  go  and  get  a  pledge, 
and  ask  him  to  sign  it. 


DIALOGUES  BY  BOYS. 


85 


Henry.    But  suppose  he  would  not  ? 

Sophia.  Then  I  would  sign  it  myself,  and 
tell  him  my  pledge  would  not  allow  of  my 
carrying  the  bottle. 

Henry.  Yes ;  yes ;  but  he  might  not  be 
willing  to  allow  you  to  sign  the  pledge ;  and  he 
might  compel  you  to  carry  the  bottle. 

Charles.  Then  I  would  tell  him  he  was 
pushing  his  opposition  too  far. 

Henry.  Come,  Charles,  I  see  you  are  all 
temperance  built?  here ;  so  I'll  go  with  you  and 
hear  what  more  can  be  said.' 

Charles.  Yes,  Henry,  we  are  all  temperance 
built,  and  the  noble  ship  in  which  we  sail,  is 
named  "The  Total  Abstinence,"  and  all  these 
boys  and  girls  are  now  upon  her  gallant  deck 
and  with  all  sails  set,  and  our  flag  at  the  mast 
head,  they  are  all  ready  to  sing. 

[Here  let  the  children  all  sing.] 


8 


PART  IV. 


DIALOGUES  BY  GIRLS, 


DIALOGUE  BY  GIRLS. 

EXAMPLES  OF  FIETY  IK  YOUTH.  / 

Maria.  In  the  midst  of  our  pleasures,  it  13 
a  great  part  of  my  happiness,  Elizabeth,  to 
meet  with  one  for  whom  I  feel  as  much  affection 
as  I  do  for  you. 

Elizabeth.  You  have  but  expressed  the  sen- 
timents of  my  own  heart,  Maria.  This  is  indeed 
a  most  gratifying  break  in  the  sameness  of  our 
Sabbath  school  exercises,  and  constitutes  a 
delightful  season  of  recreation. 

M.  I  hope,  Elizabeth,  that  while  you  speak 
of  sameness  you  do  not  conceive  the  Sabbath 
school  deficient  of  interest. 

JE.  To  be  candid  with  you,  Maria,  I  have 
sometimes  thought  that  there  was  too  much  con- 
stancy and  application  in  our  exercises  from 
Sabbath  to  Sabbath.  Indeed,  I  am  not  sure, 
but  children  are  brought  too  early  to  reflect 

8*  89 


90  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SPEAKER. 


upon  a  subject  of  so  much  moment  as  is  that  of 
religion. 

M.  In  so  thinking,  Elizabeth,  you  must  cer- 
tainly be  mistaken. 

JE.  Since  you  suppose  so,  Maria,  can  you 
tell  me  of  any  mentioned  in  the  Bible,  who  were 
early  made  the  subjects  of  religious  enjoyment? 

M.  Yes,  there  are  many.  Obadiah ;  young 
king  J osiah ;  Solomon,  and  many  others. 

Isaac.  [Rising  up,]  Yes ;  and  there  was 
Samuel ;  he  prayed,  and  the  Lord  heard  him, 
when  he  was  as  little  as  I  am. 

JE.  0  yes,  I  know ;  these  were  boys.  Such 
are  always  more  exposed  than  girls,  and  have 
greater  need  of  the  restraints  of  religion* 

M.    To  what  do  you  refer,  Elizabeth  ? 

JE.  Men  are  the  strength  of  a  nation ;  and 
in  old  times  boys  were  early  trained  to  be  sol- 
diers, and  to  perform  many  duties  which  injured 
their  morals  and  exposed  their  lives. 

M.    That  is  all  true,  Elizabeth. 

JE.  Yes,  and  in  our  own  times,  it  is  much 
the  same.  They  are  to  make  our  soldiers,  our 
firemen,  our  seamen,  and  our  men  of  business. 
They  ought,  I  think,  to  have  the  guards  of  reli- 
gion early  thrown  between  them  and  their  expo- 
sures. 

M.  True,  Elizabeth,  and  how  important  that 
we,  their  sisters,  in  whose  behalf  their  toils  and 


DIALOGUES  BY  GIRLS. 


91 


perils  are  the  greater,  should  share  in  that  reli- 
gion, that  our  prayers,  our  precepts,  and  exam- 
ple, might  aid  in  throwing  around  our  dear, 
dear  brothers,  that  strong  guard  of  which  you 
speak — the  religion  of  Jesus.  Elizabeth,  have 
you  a  brother  ? 

[Grirls  generally .*]    I  have. 

M.  You  cannot  tell  how  much  it  is  in  the 
power  of  every  sister,  especially  when  the  ami- 
able graces  of  religion  sweeten  her  temper,  to 
throw  around  her  home  those  charms  which  add 
to  the  endearments  of  the  family  circle.  Future 
years  may  sever  their  persons,  but  can  never 
obliterate  from  a  brother's  heart,  the  subduing 
memory  of  a  sister's  love,  especially  if  that 
love  has  been  mingled  with  kindlings  from  a 
throne  of  grace.  You  have  read,  Elizabeth,  the 
history  of  the  infant  Moses  ? 

E.  0  yes,  I  have  read  it  often,  and  with  the 
deepest  interest.  I  cannot  tell  you  how  much  I 
have  been  affected  when  I  have  thought  of  his 
dear  mother,  as  she  placed  him  in  the  ark  of 
bulrushes.  Oh  !  how  the  poor  woman  must  have 
felt. 

M.  Yes,  Elizabeth,  and  have  you  not  thought 
of  his  sister  ?  She  stood  and  watched  ;  and  when 
her  little  brother  was  found  by  the  princess,  she 

*  Ever}'-  girl  in  the  school,  having  a  brother,  is  to  repeat  this 
answer,  all  unitedly  and  distinctly. 


92  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SPEAKER. 

ran  to  procure  the  nurse.  Surely  it  is  an  encou* 
raging  thought,  that  in  effecting  the  safety  of 
Moses, — who  became  a  man  so  good  and  so 
great — though  his  own  mother  was  needed,  and 
a  princess  employed,  yet  his  sister — watchful, 
constant,  and  faithful — his  sister  was  a  highly 
honoured  instrument. 

JE.  I  was  about  to  remark  a  while  ago,  Ma- 
ria, that  the  ca§e-s  you  mentioned  were  those  of 
boys  ;  and  I  would  now  ask  you  if  you  know  of 
any  instances  mentioned  in  the  Bible,  in  which 
girls  have  given  evidence  of  early  piety  ? 

M.  Do  you  not  remember  the  case  of  the 
little  Hebrew  girl  ? 

[All  the  children.]  Second  book  of  Kings, 
and  fifth  chapter. 

M.  When  but  a  child  she  was  made  a  cap- 
tive in  war.  Far  from  home,  her  parents,  and 
her  temple,  she  lived  a  captive.  Still  she  remem- 
bered God,  and  his  prophet. 

JE.  She  must,  I  think,  have  had  good  pa- 
rents. 

Susan.  [Rising  up.]  Yes ;  and  it  shows 
that  it  is  good  to  train  up  children  in  the  way 
they  should  go. 

M.  Not  only  were  her  parents  probably 
good,  but,  from  her  history,  we  may  suppose 
that  there  was  a  compliance  on  her  part  with 
thsir  instructions.    How  different  it  would  have 


DIALOGUES  BY  GIRLS.  93 

been,  my  dear  Elizabeth,  had  that  child  been 
inattentive,  under  a  mistaken  sentiment  that 
earlier  years  might  be  spent  in  the  neglect  of 
religion. 

H.  I  thank  «,you,  Maria,  for  your  kind  inti- 
mation, and  trust  I  shall  profit  by  it.  But  you 
must,  nevertheless,  admit  that  at  Sabbath  school 
we  are  taught  to  esteem,  as  vain  and  dangerous, 
many  pleasures  for  which  we  have  a  strong 
inclination. 

M.  Inclination  is  not  to  be  our  guide,  Eli- 
zabeth. There  are  many  amusements  in  which 
we  would  delight  to  indulge,  which  are  entirely 
at  variance  with  the  sanctions  of  religion.  By 
their  fruits  we  judge  of  trees ;  and  in  the  same 
manner  we  may  judge  of  pleasures.  The  plea- 
sures of  sin  may  often  yield  a  flower  of  gayety ; 
but  that  flower  may  ripen  into  fruit,  staining 
the  purity  it  touches,  and  giving  bitterness  and 
anguish  to  the  soul  that  tastes  it.  Be  assured, 
Elizabeth,  that  the  best  guide  to  the  path  of  the 
young,  through  a  world  in  which  there  is  so 
much  to  ensnare,  is  that  Bible  which  will  ever 
be  an  overshadowing  cloud  in  the  day  of  pros- 
perity, and  a  pillar  of  flame  in  the  season  of 
trial.  Ever  remember,  then,  my  dear  Elizabeth, 
that  God  has  not  made  us  like  the  little  hum- 
ming-bird, to  range  in  sun-light  from  flower  to 
flower,  and  then  to  shrink  away  in  the  coming 


v 


94  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SPEAKER. 

of  winter,  We  are  formed  for  eternity.  Let 
us  then  make  such  improvement  of  oar  present 
hours,  as  shall  yield  us  fruits  of  righteousness, 
when  we  shall  prove  the  unending  realities  of 
that  eternity  in  which  we  may  enjoy  the  pre- 
sence and  smile  of  our  God. 

JE.  This  conversation,  my  dear  Maria,  has 
afforded  me  much  pleasure,  and  will  prompt  me 
with  increased  delight  to  attend  the  school 
where  already  my  enjoyments  have  been  so 
many ;  and  may  its  blessings  be  diffused  until 
the  children  of  the  whole  earth  shall  say  to 
each  nation,—"  Thy  children  shall  all  be  taught 
ly  the  Lord,  and  great  shall  be  the  peace  of  thy 
children." 

[This  quotation  is  to  be  repeated  aloud  by  the  whole  school.] 

*..  / 

mm       >       r        -  :':<  M<j* 


DIALOGUE  BY  GIRLS. 


DANCING. 

Cornelia.  0  Catharine  !  Have  you  heard 
f  the  ball  that  Mrs.  Wilson  is  to  give  to-mor- 
row night,  on  the  occasion  of  Sophia's  birth-day? 

Catharine.  I  have,  Cornelia ;  and  am  much 
surprised  that  Sophia's  mother  should  have 
thought  of  such  a  foolish  amusement. 

Cornelia.  Foolish,  Catharine  ?  How  can  you 
call  it  foolish  ?  I  have  been  persuading  mother 
to  let  me  go,  as  I  am  invited.  Being  refused 
the  permission,  I  have  been  quite  down-hearted 
ever  since. 

Catharine.  I  am  sorry  that  you  should  feel 
any  disappointment  or  sorrow  upon  that  subject. 
Your  mother,  I  think,  has  exhibited  her  good 
sense  and  truest  affection,  in  refusing  a  grati- 
fication that  might  possibly  prove  a  lasting 
injury. 

Cornelia.  An  injury?  How  can  that  be? 
It  is  only  an  innocent  amusement. 

Catharine.  Innocent,  Cornelia  ?  I  think  it 
is  far  from  being  innocent.    It  is  wicked. 

Cornelia.  How  can  you  say  so,  Catharine  ? 
It  is  a  cheerful  and  healthful  exercise. 

95 


96  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SPEAKER. 

■ 

Catharine.  It  may  be  cheerful,  Cornelia; 
but  cheerfulness  does  not  always  come  from 
doing  right.  Gay  and  thoughtless  people  are 
often  cheerful,  because  they  break  away  from 
those  teachings  by  which  our  Heavenly  Father 
endeavours  to  restrain  us  from  the  ways  of  error 
and  danger.  In  some  instances  dancing  may 
be  healthful ;  but  I  have  heard  and  read  of  so 
many  persons  whose  health  has  been  injured  by 
it,  that  I  think  dancing  any  thing  but  proper. 
I  have  heard  of  many  who  have  even  died  from 
its  injurious  effects. 

Cornelia.  That  I  should  think  impossible, 
Catharine. 

Catharine.  It  is  true,  Cornelia.  Ladies  who 
attend  balls,  are  usually  dressed  very  lightly. 
The  dancing  is  indulged  in  until  it  becomes  im- 
moderate. The  scene  is  exciting ;  and  when  the 
ball  closes,  the  ladies  return  home  through  a 
keen  midnight  air.  Under  such  circumstances, 
the  slightest  cold  may  take  a  strong  grasp  upon 
the^system ;  so  that  however  good  the  exercise 
may  be,  dancing  is  such  a  dangerous  mode  of 
obtaining  it,  that  it  is  far  better  to  procure  it  in 
some  more  rational  way. 

Cornelia.  It  cannot  be  so  wicked,  Catharine, 
for  you  know  that  it  is  mentioned  in  the  Bible. 
Solomon  says,  "there  is  a  time  to  dance." 

Catharine.    I  know  he  does :  but  he  does  not 


V 

DIALOGUES  BY  GIRLS. 


97 


gpeak  of  it  as  approving  it.  When  lescribing 
the  conduct  of  men,  he  says,  "  God  made  man 
upright,  but  man  had  sought  out  many  inven- 
tions." Perhaps,  Cornelia,  one  of  those  inven- 
tions is  dancing.  In  making  mention  of  the 
many  uses  to  which  men  have  appropriated 
time,  Solomon  says,  "there  is  a  time  to  dance." 
He  does  not  say  that  it  is  either  proper  or  wise, 
but  simply  that  men  take  "  a  time  to  dance." 

Cornelia.  But  David  approved  of  it,  and 
danced  before  the  ark,  and  that  too  on  an  occa- 
sion entirely  religious. 

Catharine.  Not  entirely  religious,  Cornelia, 
for  David,  as  a  king,  viewed  the  bringing  up  of 
the  ark  as  an  event  of  a  national  character,  as 
well  as  of  religious  interest.  It  was  no  dance, 
in  the  common  meaning  of  dancing.  They  tell 
me  that  when  people  dance  they  have  partners,  J 
and  David  had  no  partner ;  his  wife  was  much 
displeased  at  his  conduct,  which  she  would  not 
have  been,  had  he  been  accustomed  to  dance. 
The  truth,  I  believe,  is,  that  David  merely 
jumped  from  ecstacy;  and  it  is  one  of  those 
instances  of  intense  exultation,  recorded  be- 
cause of  its  extraordinary  character,  and  not  as 
prescribing  an  example  to  others. 

Cornelia.  Do  you  think,  then,  Catharine, 
that  the  Scriptures  give  no  sanction  to  the  prac- 
tice of  dancing  ? 

9 


\ 


98  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SPEAKER. 

i 

Catharine.  They  do  not  sanction  it ;  but  1 
think  reprehend  it ;  showing  its  pernicious 
effects.  This  is  particularly  the  case  in  the 
cruel  murder  cf  J ohn  the  Baptist.  That  faith- 
ful reprover  of  wrong  had  rebuked  Herod  and 
Herodias,  for  their  sin,  so  that  Herodias  desired  • 
his  death,  "  and  would  have  killed  him."  This 
she  was  not  able  to  accomplish  until  an  occasion 
presented  in  the  excitement  of  the  dance.  In 
such  an  hour,  Herod  crushed  all  the  good  im- 
pressions made  by  the  preaching  of  John,  and 
in  that  hour  of  levity  and  dance  John's  death 
was  determined.  Such  was  the  dreadful  fruit 
of  a  pleasure  the  most  exciting — a  pleasure 
which  infatuates  its  votaries,  and  fills  the  young 
heart  with  the  most  extravagant  gayety. 

Cornelia.    But  it  is  a  common  amusement 
among  most  nations.    How  can  it  be  that  a 
pr^tice,  in  itself  so  evil,  can  be  so  commonly  , 
encouraged  ? 

Catharine.  Those  nations  which  adopt  it,  do 
not  always  engage  in  it  as  an  amusement.  Pa- 
gan and  savage  nations  adopt  it  in  the  inflic- 
tions of  their  cruelties.  Savages  have  their 
war-dances ;  they  dance  around  their  captives 
when  they  doom  them  to  death  by  burning ;  and 
dance  and  yell  amid  the  fierceness  of  thunder- 
storms. The  Romans  thought  dancing  con-\ 
temptible.    Its  practice  among  ancient  nations 


DIALOGUES  BY  GIRLS.  9& 

was  attended  by  such  irrational  and  cruel  ex- 
citements that  no  civilized  people  should  desire 
to  imitate  them, 

Cornelia.  You  have  brought  many  instances 
to  view,  Catharine,  and  have  presented  such 
considerations  to  my  mind,  that  I  no  longer  am 
surprised  that  you  think  as  you  do ;  and  I  now 
see  that  my  tender  mother  has  been  governed 
by  the  kindest  feelings  toward  me,  by  denying 
me  the  privilege  of  attending  a  ball. 

Catharine.  It  was,  indeed,  for  your  good, 
Cornelia.  We  are  young  and  inexperienced, 
and  it  is  well  that  we  have  those  to  watch  over 
us  who  are  wise  to  discern  the  danger  to  which 
our  young  hearts  are  exposed ;  and  happy  are 
those  who,  like  you,  my  dear  Cornelia,  have  a 
mother  of  sufficient  decision  to  refuse  to  a  child 
a  gratification  which,  however  pleasing  to  the 
unreflecting,  is  looked  upon  by  the  good  find 
virtuous  as  corrupting  and  pernicious.  Let  us, 
in  the  feebleness  of  childhood,  cleave  to  the 
paths  of  our  Saviour,  who,  as  our  Shepherd, 
will  screen  us  from  the  evils  to  which  our  im- 
perfect judgment  would  expose  us.  Let  us,  in 
love  for  our  Sabbath  school,  cherish  the  sacred 
instructions  which  we  .there  receive.  Thus  shar 
ing  the  Divine  protection  we  may  sing, 

[Here  let  all  the  school  sing,] 


100 


SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SPEAKEB. 


*  Jesus,  great  Shepherd  of  the  sheep^ 
To  thee  for  help  we  fly ; 
Thy  little  flock  in  safety  keep, 
For,  oh !  the  wolf  is  nigh ! 

Us  into  thy  protection  take, 
And  gather  with  thine  arm, 

Unless  the  fold  we  first  forsake, 
The  wolf  can  never  harm. 

Together  let  us  sweetly  live, 

Together  let  us  die, 
And  each  a  starry  crown  receive 

And  reign  above  the  sky." 


DIALOGUE  BY  GIRLS 


CHSISTMAS. 

[Though  adapted  particularly  to  Christmas  day,  this  iialogui 
may  be  spoken  upon  any  occasion.] 

Susan. 

G:  :o  nornin;:.  Jane  !  pray  have  you  time  to 
stay, 

And  wish  a  friend  a  happy  Christmas  day  ? 
Jane. 

Yes — Susan,  yes :  and  glad  I  am  we  meet, 
And  can  each  other  on  a  Christinas  greet. 
Susan. 

And  I  am  glad ;  and  should  it  not  offend, 
I'll  put  a  question  to  my  youthful  friend ; 
Why  do  the  people  call  this  Christmas  day, 
And  meet  at  Church,  to  render  praise,  and  pray? 
Jane. 

Why,  I  will  tell  you ;  'twas  on  Christmas  morn, 
That  man's  Redeemer,  Christ  the  Lord,  was  born; 
In  Judah's  land — in  David's  city  too, 
Nearly,  I  think,  two  thousand  years  ago. 
Susan* 

What  glory  shone,  when  he,  the  Lord,  appear'd, 
And  thrones  of  earth  his  power  must  have  fear'd. 

9*  101 


IV4  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SPEAKER. 

How  did  he  come  ?    Did  thunder  shake  the  sky  ? 
And  did  his  throne  appear  to  mortal  eye  ? 
The  Prince  of  heaven  was  surely  Prince  of  men, 
And  mankind  trembled  when  the  Lord  was  seen. 
Jane. 

No  !  Susan,  no  !  an  humble  babe  he  was ; 
Humble  in  birth,  as  humble  on  the  cross, 
Although  he  came  a  guilty  world  to  save,— 

To  bear  their  sins — to  sanctify  the  grave,  

He  came  in  flesh,  to  suffer  and  to  die, 
And  veil'd  his  glory  from  the  human  eye. 
Angels,  'tis  true,  proclaim'd  with  joy  his  name, 
To  do  him  honour,  eastern  sages  came, 
And  Shepherds  too  fell  at  his  feet  in  prayer, 
And  Simeon  own'd  that  Israel's  hope  was  there. 
Susan. 

Yes,  I  remember.    In  his  word  we  find, 
That  J esus  was  a  little  child  and  kind, 
And  as  in  years  the  lovely  Saviour  grew, 
He  grew  in  knowledge  and  in  favour  too. 
Jane. 

What  an  example !    And  whakwond'rous  love, 
To  leave  the  glory  of  the  world  above ! 
To  come  to  man— so  full  of  truth  and  grace, 
And  make  this  earth  awhile  his  dwelling  place. 
Ofttimes  to-  thirst— to  hunger  too  for  bread— 
i  And  oft  to  know  not  where  to  lay  his  head ; 
The  Lord  of  Life — whom  highest  angels  greet, 
And  cast  their  crowns  obedient  at  his  feet. 

# 


DIALOGUES  BY  GIRLS.  108 


•Susan. 

Their  crowns !  dear  Jane,  and  what's  a  crown, 
pray  tell  ? 

I've  heard  of  crowns  since  first  I  learn'd  to  spell, 
I  know,  of  crowns,  in  many  a  book  I've  read, 
And,  if  I'm  right,  they  wear  them  on  the  head  ; 
But  tell  me  whether  all  who  please  may  wear  a 
crown, 

And  if  each  chili  might  such  a  treasure  own  ? 
Jane. 

The  crowns  of  earth  are  worn  by  those  alone, 
Who  have  dominion,  and  possess  a  throne. 
They're  made  of  gold,  and  gemm'd  with  jewels 
rare, 

And  all  the  splendour  that  a  prince  can  wear. 
The  Saviour's  crown,  of  pointed  thorns  was 
made, 

That  pierc'd  the  temples  of  his  bleeding  head. 
Fit  emblem  that,  of  every  earthly  crown, 
Though  by  the  honour' d  and  the  mighty  worn. 
All  crowns  have  thorns  to  pierce  the  wearer's 
brow, 

And  grief  and  pain  must  princes  ever  know, 
But  heaven's  crowns,  are  crowns  of  righteous- 
ness, 

By  saints  and  angels  worn  in  holiest  peace. 
Such  crowns,  dear  Susan,  you  and  I  may  wear9 
And  yonder  kingdom,  with  the  righteous  share* 


104  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SPEAKER 


But  tell  me,  Susan,  Lad  you  now  a  crown 
Of  purest  gold— and  jewel' d— all  your  own, 
What  would  you  do  with  such  a  treasure,  dear, 
Would  you  delight  the  glittering  thing  to  wear  f 

Samuel.    [Rising  up,  and  saying  aloud,] 
What  would  she  do  ?    Why  just  as  I  or  you. 
Had  I  a  crown,  I'll  tell  you  what  I'd  jdo ; 
I  would  not  wear  it — no,  not  I  indeed, 
I'd  be  asham'd  to  have  it  on  my  head. 
I'd  sell  it— gold  and  jewels,  all  I'd  sell — 
The  sum  I'd  get  would  suit  me  just  as  well, 
Then  I'd  keep  Christmas  with  a  host  of  toys, 
And  have  enough  to  give  to  all  these  boys. 

Joseph.    [Rising  up,  and  saying  aloud,] 
Sell  it,  Samuel !  I'd  do  no  such  thing, — 
I'd  put  it  on  my  head,  and  be  a  king ! 
.  Susan. 

Had  I  a  crown,  dear  J ane,  did  you  inquire  ? 
The  question  fills  my  bosom  with  desire  ! 
No  crown  of  gold  should  my  young  brow  adorn, 
I'd  think  of  Him  whose  crown  was  made  of  thorns, 
Though  king  of  heaven',  to  earth,  so  poor  he  came, 
That  earth  scarce  knew  him,  or  confess'd  hia 
name. 

Had  I  a  crown,  dear  Jane,  with  joy  I'd  haste, 
To  lay  that  crown  with  all  that  I  possess'd — • 
Yes,  as  the  angels,  when  in  heaven  they  meet, 
Fd  cast  that  crown  with  joy  at  Jesus'  feet! 


DIALOGUES  BY  GIRljS.  105 

[Here  let  all  the  children  unite  in  singing  the  following  verse 
This,  to  have  its  effect,  must  follow  up  quick,  without  a  mo- 
ment's pause,  the  dialogue.] 

"All  hail  the  power  of  Jesus'  name, 
Let  angels  prostrate  fall ; 
Bring  forth  the  royal  diadem, 
And  erown  him  Lord  of  all." 


* 


DIALOGUE  BY  TWO  SMALL  BOYS,  AND 
ONE  LARGE  GIRL. 


THE  MOUNTAIN  OF  PRAYER. 

Stephen. 

Say,  is  it  not  lovely  when  summer-sun  shines, 
And  the  fields  are  all  dress'd  in  rich  green, 

To  wander  away,  on  some  hill  to  recline, 
And  gaze  on  the  beautiful  scene  ? 
David. 

0  yes  !  it  is  pleasant ;  I  know  it  is  so, 
Such  scenes  I've  delighted  to  share ;  . 

But  landscapes  there  are,  of  a  lovelier  glow, 
Which  are  seen  from  the  mountain  of  prayer, 
Stephen. 

What  landscapes  are  those,  and  how  are  they 
seen, 

Have  they  fountains,  and  forests,  and  flowers  ? 
Have  they  bowers  of  beauty,  and  meadows  of 
green, 

Are  those  landscapes  as  lovely  as  ours  ? 
David. 

0  yes !  'tis  a  land  where  the  sun  never  sets, 
Where  the  hills  are  ne'er  cover'd  with  snow, 
106 


DIALOGUES  BY  BOYS.  10? 

Where  the  dew-drop  ne'er  falls  like  a  tesS  of 

regret, 

Where  blossoms,  the  tempests  ne'er  know. 
'Tis  the  land  of  the  blest,  where  the  Lord  hath 
his  throne, 

And  the  souls  of  the  just  shall  live  there, 
A  land  where  the  good  an  inheritance  own, 

And  'tis  seen  from  the  mountain  of  prayer. 

Stephen. 

Say,  who  are  the  people  who  dwell  in  that  realm, 
Where  the  night  ne'er  obtrudes  on  the  day, 

Where  the  sky  is  all  bright  and  the  air  ever  calm, 
Do  the  people  aught  know  of  decay  ? 

•  David. 

The  infant  is  there,  but  with  vigour  of  mind,— 

The  aged  their  youth  have  renew'd, — 
Of  every  age,  the  redeem'd  of  mankind — • 
The  wise — and  the  humble — and  good. 
The  old,  infirm,  and  bending, 

No  more  the  staff  shall  need — 
The  heart  with  sorrow  rending, 

From  every  care  is  freed. 
No  fortune  there  is  wrested; 

No  health  shall  ever  fade ; 
No  love  that  fails  when  tested, 
That  land  shall  e'er  invade» 

There  are  no  graves  in  heaven- 
No  mother's  broken  heart, 


108  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SPEAKER- 

o  whom  a  child  was  given, 
To  love  awhile,  and  part. 
But  there  the  child  and  mother, 

Who  parted  here  in  pain, 
Shall  meet  and  love  each  other, 
When  the  dead  shall  live  again, 
Stephen* 

0  yes !  I  know ;  'tis  this  world  on  high, 
More  beautiful  far  than  a  sun-set  sky ; 
And  the  prayer  of  pure  faith  may  its  glories 
behold, 

Its  gardens  of  beauty — its  streamlets  of  gold. 

Let  us  learn,  'mid  a  world  full  of  grief  as  is  this, 
To  fix  our  firm  trust  in  the  world  full  of  bliss, 
And  if,  when  we  die,  its  lov'd  joys  we  would 

share, 

Let  us  walk  in  the  way,  o'er  the  mountain  of 
Prayer. 

But  who  will  come  to  guide  us, 

While  our  spirits  journey  there  ? 
Tor  a  wilderness  divides  us, 

From  the  holy  mount  of  Prayer. 
David. 

The  God  who  shields  the  raven, 
When  the  storm  is  raging  high ; 

Or  deigns,  so  high  in  heaven, 
To  hear  the  sparrow's  cryj 


DIALOGUES  BY  BOYS. 


109 


i3'en  lie  who  guides  the  sparrow, 
Will  teach  our  steps  to  tread ; 

And  though  the  path  be  narrow, 
A  light  divine  he'll  shed. 

[Here  let  a  girl,  much  larger  than  the  boys,  approach  toward 
them,  upon  the  platform,  having  a  Bible  in  her  hand,  and 
repeat,] 

Would'st  thou  walk  in  the  way  to  which  wisdom 
invites, 

And  dwell  in  the  land  of  eternal  delights, 
Take  the  Bible,  dear  children,  betimes  let  it  be, 
Like  the  star  in  the  east,  shedding  light  over 
thee. 

'Twill  guide  thee  where  Jesus  the  Saviour  is 
found ;  * 

Where  the  light  of  His  mercy  is  breaking  around, 
Its  promise  may  cheer  thee  when  storms  may 
enshroud, 

And  smile  o'er  thy  path,  like  the  bow  on  the 
cloud. 

'Twill  guide  like  the  pillar  to  Israel  that  came, 
And  hung  o'er  their  path  like  a  glorious  flame. 
'Twill  feed  thee  with  manna  that  angels  shall 
give, 

And  prove  that  by  bread  man  alone  cannot  live. 
'Tis  a  spring  in  the  desert  all  barren  and  drear, 
Whose  streams  flow  in  fulness  the  thirsty  to  cheer, 

10 


110  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SPEAKER. 

'Ti^le  cleft  in  the  rock  where  the  soul  dwells 

secure, 

While  God  passes  by  in  his  glory  and  power. 
'Tis  the  bush  where  he  dwells,  'mid  the  undying 
flame, 

And  speaks  from  its  glory,  "  I  AM"  is  my  name. 
'Tis  a  staff  to  the  feeble — a  guide  to  the  young, 
The  bow  of  the  mighty— the  shield  of  the  strong. 
'Tis  the  crook  of  the  shepherd,  who  leadeth  on 

Beside  the  still  waters— in  fields  of  the  sky. 

Take  the  Bible  !  dear  children,  your  guide  le4; 
it  be, 

In  the  light  of  His  Spirit,  its  truth  you  shall  see. 
When  seeking  the  life,  and  the  truth,  and  the 
way, 

Would'st  thou  walk  in  the  path  shining  bright 

as  mid-day,  ■ 
In  hours  of  devotion,  thy  Bible  be  there,— 
The  Shekinah  of  God,  in  the  Mountain  of  Prayer, 


I 


DIALOGUE  BY  GIRLS. 

THE  KESURRECTION. 
[To  be  spoken  on  any  occasion.] 

Matilda, 

'Tis  Easter  day  !— that  day  which  Heaveh  gave, 
When  Christ  arose  in  triumph  from  the  grave ; 
When  we  who  share  that  Saviour's  wondrous 

grace,  '  ^ 

Mingle  wi4h  rapture  in  this  holy  place. 
Sarah. 

But  sure  Matilda,  'tis  a  mystery  great. 
How  he  could  break  that  firm  and  mighty  gate, 
Which  long  enclosed  the  many,  many  dead, 
When  dire  corruption  long  its  terror  spread 
Matilda. 

True,  Sarah ;  but  to  Heaven  lift  thine  eyes, 
Behold  the  sun,  or  stars,  that  'lume  the  skies, 
And  is  it  not  a  mystery  to  thy  sight, 
How  comes  that  sun  to  banish  gloomy  night  ? 
Sarah. 

It  is  indeed !  but  not  by  far  so  deep 
As  that  which  bids  the  dead  forsake  their  sleep, 
To  think  that  what  in  dust  should  fade  and  die, 
Should  rise  in  beauty,  and  ascend  the  sky. 

in 


112  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SPEAKER. 

And  why  to  us  should  that  so  wondrous  seem, 
When  we  conceive  the  mighty  power  of  Him 
By  whom  'tis  wrought  ?    His  power  at  first, 
Gave  us  our  being — framed  us  from  the  dust ; 
From  nothing  He  this  mighty  structure  reared,- 
And  spake  His  Glory  when  the  world  appeared ; 
If  He  at  first  gave  form  and  life  to  all 
Who  dwell  in  Heaven,  or  on  this  nether  ball, 
If  to  yon  stars  He  gave  their  glorious  flame, 
If  from  His  power  all  nature's  beauties  came, 
Is  it  so  strange  when  mortal  frames  decay, 
That  He  whose  power,  both  life  and  death  obey, 
Should  bid  those  frames  from  death  again  arise 
In  structure  new,  and  fashioned  for  the  skies. 
Sarah. 

'Tis  true,  that  He  whose  fiat  nature  owns, 
Whose  throne  in  Glory  is  the  throne  of  thrones, 
Can  bid  the  dead  to  life  again  awake, 
And  forms  of  beauty  in  an  instant  take ; 
But  still  'tis  mystery  dread,  a  deep  profound ; 
A  sea  of  wonder,  where  all  thought  is  drowned. 
Matilda. 

A  mystery,  Sarah !  be  it  so,  what  then, 
Let  me  intreat  you,  turn  your  thoughts  again 
To  nature :  here  in  every  thing  we  view, 
From  globes  of  brightness,  e'en  to  drops  of  dew, 
All  these  are  deep  beyond  thy  power  to  S€an? 
Or  to  be  fathomed  by  the  wisest  man ; 


DIALOGUES  BY  GIRLS.  HJj 

Is  it  not  strange  that  when  the  summer  aBrers^ 
Spread  their  rich  hues  through  every  lovely 
bower, 

When  green  and  soft,  the  varied  landscapes 
spread, 

And  fruit  and  flowers  their  ripening  fragrance 
shed, 

When  birds,  whose  plumes  vie  with  the  flowerets 
fair, 

Blending  their  music  with  the  fragrant  air, 
Now  shake  the  blossom  with  their  velvet  wing, 
And  'mid  unnumbered  sweets  delighted  sing. 
Is  it  not  strange  that  these  must  all  decay — 
A  summer  live,  then  droop,  and  pass  away — 
Winter  like  death  invades  the  lovely  scene, 
And  binds  the  beauties  with  a  conqueror's  chain. 
The  flowers  must  weep — the  seared  leaf  must 
die, 

While  winds  may  moan  and  pensive  autumn  sigh, 
Far,  far  around  the  waste  of  death  must  spread, 
Till  drooping  beauties  feel  the  mighty  tread, 
Of  him  who  comes,  stern  winter,  in  whose  gloom 
The  summer  glories  find  an  icy  tomb ; 
But  short  his  reign,  for  in  their  crumbling  dust, 
A  seed  remains  that  gave  them  life  at  first ; 
In  weakness  sown— in  power  it  shall  come, 
In  vileness  stricken,  but  in  beauty's  form 
It  shall  appear,  and  though  corruption's  breath, 
Blighted  its  verdure  in  the  crush  of  death, 

10* 


114  •SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SPEAKER. 

StilflRall  it  rise,  in  glory  new  and  bright, 

When  hoary  winter  vanishes  from  sight; 
Thus  shall  the  dead  arise,  tho'  long  their  sleep, 
Tho'  o'er  the  valley  many  long  may  weep, 
Tho'  yearning  hearts  o'er  the  dread  scene  may 
grieve, 

And  cry,  0  heaven  !  shall  these  dry  bones  live  ? 
The  Spirit's  power  shall  sweep  the  dreadful 
gloom, 

The  voice  of  God  shall  pierce  the  rending  tomb, 
And  death  shall  fly— as  from  the  trembling  skies, 
The  Son  of  God  shall  bid  the  dead  arise ! 
May  we  so  live,  that  when  that  sacred  hour, 
Shall  take  from  death  his  triumph  and  his  power, 
We  may  awake  in  righteousness  and  peace, 
And  join  the  ransomed  whose  delights  ne'er 
cease. 


I 


PART  V 

RECITATIONS  BY  BOYS. 


RECITATION  BY  A  BOY. 

A  VOICE  FROM  THE  TOWERS  OF  ZIOtf. 

L£Jy  by  the  light  which  ancient  prophets  knew, 
When  Zion's  glory  broke  upon  their  view, 
I  venture  forth  to  fix  the  wondering  sight, 
On  domes  and  turrets  merging  from  the  night, 
As  when  the  dawn  sheds  down  her  roseate  smile, 
To  call  from  rest  the  honest  sons  of  toil. 
Far  up  the  hill  eternal,  glorious  Zion  stands, 
Her  light  resplendent  beaming  o'er  each  land. 
To  see  that  glory  wise  men  come  from  far, 
And  hail  with  joy  Messiah's  promis'd  star. 
Zion  !  great  city !  dwelling  place  of  God, 
Within  whose  courts  the  dread  Shekinah  glow'd, 
When  'neath  the  wing  of  golden  cherubim, 
Mysterious  glory  told  the  abode  of  Him, 

117 


118  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SPEAKER. 

Wh^§twells  021  earth  the  «  King  of  Kings' 9  con. 
fest, 

Who  said  of  Zion,  "  This  shall  be  my  rest." 
Her  towers,  high  rear'd  in  grandeur  toward  the 
sky, 

Have  held  with  rapture  my  admiring  eye. 
Mark  ye  her  bulwarks,  which  unhurt  have  stood, 
Nor  felt  the  ruin  of  the  direst  flood, 
With  thrilling  heart  her  palaces  I  scan, 
f  he  care  of  angels  and  the  joy  of  man. 
Since  Time  first  breath' d  the  air  of  Eden's  vale, 
And  spread  his  pinion  to  the  infant  gale  : 
Or  first  the  sun  rejoic'd  his  course  to  run, 
And  stepp'd  in  glory  from  his  eastern  throne, 
Ne'er — ne'er  hath  stood  a  city  so  secure, 
Each  wall  salvation,— every  bulwark  sure. 
Though  cities  perish  in  the  mighty  flame, 
Although  forgotten  e'en  their  once  proud  naice — 
Though  Tyre  and  Sidon  in  one  common  wo, 
Abas' d  with  Babylon,  no  help  shall  know — 
Though  Rome's  great  glory  in  oblivion  sleep, 
And  cloth'd  in  ashes  mighty  Pompeii  weep, — 
Yet  standeth  Zion  in  her  pristine  joy, 
No  fire  can  harm — no  earthquake  e'er  destroy  ; 
E'er  shall  she  stand,  as  through  all  time  she 
stood, 

A  crown  of  glory  in  the  hand  of  God. 
Her  light,  her  laws,  shall  every  nation  bless, 
And  earth,  shall  gladden  in  the  reign  of  peace. 


RECITATIONS  BY  BOYS.  119 


Europea's  altars  show  a  brighter  flame,  IPt 
And  guild  her  honours  to  the  lofty  name. 
For  forms  and  rites  the  Spirit's  power  is  giv'n, 
And  superstition  flies  the  light  of  heaven. 

Where  Asia's  tribes  in  deepest  darkness  dwell, 
With  scarce  one  voice  the  Saviour's  love  to  tell- 
Where  funeral  flames  on  scenes  of  terror  break, 
And  mercy  shudders  at  the  widow's  shriek, — 
A  wide  Golgotha  o'er  a  nation  spreads, 
Nor  human  eye  can  scan  the  many  dead ; 
Here— here,  at  length  the  steps  of  him  are  seen, 
Who  flies  the  herald  of  salvation's  plan. 

Lo  !  China,  yields  !  Unfolds  her  hoary  gates, 
And  seeks  instruction  at  Messiah's  feet. 
Haste!  Christians,  help,  for  Asia's  "light  is 
come," 

A  light  to  gladden  every  Hindoo  home ; 

Press  we  the  prayer— our  hearts  and  hands  unite, 

Till  Asia  rises  in  our  Prince's  light. 

Though  clouds  awhile  surround  the  promise-star, 
Which  spreads  a  smile  on  Afric's  coast  afar, 
Yet  still  we  trust  those  clouds  shall  pass  away, 
And  Afric  triumph  in  a  happier  day. 
Sink  not  our  hearts— behold  our  altars  there, 
The  Ethiop  blending  in  the  white  man's  prayer, 
The  graves  of  martyrs  seal  Liberia's  soil, 
"Nor  yield  we  Afric  though  a  thousand  fall." 


120  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SPEAKER. 


See^Where  the  Indian  from  the  distant  lake, 
Whose  whoop  could  once  a  nation's  fears  awake- 
Now  comes  to  seek  him  in  the  house  of  prayer, 
And  tell  of  tribes  who  worship  Jesus,  there. 
Nor  from  the  distant  north  alone  they  come, 
But  from  the  tribes  who  in  the  "  far-west'5  roam; 
From  Rocky  Mountains  to  Pacific's  shores, 
Where  not  one  tribe  the  Son  of  God  adores  :— 
Behold  they  come  ! — The  Flat-Head  herald-few, 
To  know  of  God — the  Bible — Jesus  too. 
The  early  fruits  of  fullest  harvest  they, 
Of  fields  that  glisten  in  the  opening  day. 
The  fields  are  great — the  labourers  still  are  few; 
Ask  God,  0  Christian,  what  he'd  have  thee  do  ! 
From  Oregon  they  seek  our  very  door, 
Seek — ask — yea,  knock; — the  tribes  our  help 
implore. 

Shut  ye  your  hearts  ?  0  Christians,  tell  me,  tell, 
How  in  that  heart  the  love  of  God  can  dwell ! 
If  we  love  not  our  brother,  whom  we  see, 
Vain,  vain  the  love,  0  Lord,  we  name  to  thee. 
Wake  then,  0  Zion  !  for  the  harvest 's  great ; 
Crowd  with  your  gifts  our  every  altar-gate ; — 
"Lord  of  the  harvest,"  hear  thy  people  pray: 
0  send  forth  labourers  in  this  glorious  day. 
We'll  pray — we'll  act — to  this  our  vows  be  given, 
Till  earth  rejoices  in  the  song  of  heaven. 


RECITATION  BY  A  BOY 


NEW-YEAR. 

Another  New- Year's  day  has  come,, 
Reminding  us  of  those  now  fled, 

And  I  would  fain  survey  the  tomb, 
In  holding  converse  with  the  dead. 

The  dead — the  righteous  dead,  'tis  mine, 
To  urge  the  living  ne'er  forget, 

Whose  names  embalm'd  in  memory's  shrine 
Live  with  their  glorious  doings  yet. 

No  distant  land  shall  hold  my  eye, 
To  bid  my  thoughts  in  rapture  wake, 

My  country  to  my  heart  is  nigh, 
On  her  I  see  a  glory  break. 

The  breeze  that  fans  the  forest  pine, 
Takes  up  the  hamlet-worship  song ; 

The  Indian  feels  the  joy  divine, 
And  mingles  in  our  Zion's  throng. 

The  village  bell — the  city  spire, 
Denote  the  altars  God  has  rear'd, 

Where  glow  ten  thousand  holy  fires, 
And  millions  own  that  God  is  fear'd. 

11  121 


122  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SPEAKER. 

Long  live  the  memory  of  those  men, 
Who  rear'd  the  gospel  banner  here, 

Whose  toils  of  love  were  not  in  vain, 
Whose  fruits  of  love  this  day  appear. 

While  o'er  Pacific  rolls  a  wave, 
Or  Ceylon  feels  a  Saviour's  grace, 

His  name  shall  live  whose  only  grave 
Is  in  the  ocean's  funeral  place. 

The  holy  Coke,  who  sought  our  land, 
And  preach'd  the  gospel's  tidings  here, 

One  of  the  pure  and  generous  band, 
His  name  to  Zion  ever  dear. 

And  Asbury,  we  all  confess, 

Among  that  band  of  burning  lights ; 

Ages  to  come  thy  name  shall  bless, 
And  hold  thee  e'er  in  mjemory  bright 


RECITATION  BY  A  BOY 


WELCOME  TO  CHRISTMAS. 

A  YOUTHFUL  band  !  with  joy-inspiring  cheer, 
We  hail  the  day  which  saw  the  Lord  appear. 
We  lift  our  praise  to  Him  who  reigns  above, 
Who  through  each  year  protects  us  with  His  love. 
These  youthful  hearts  their  grateful  tribute 
bring, 

To  hail  the  Saviour  —  heaven's  eternal  King. 

'Tis  His  pure  love  that  prompts  the  joyful  strain, 
The  lovely  anthem  sounding  wide  his  name ; 
Here  in  His  worship  blend  our  hearts  in  peace, 
In  hope  of  heaven  when  this  life  shall  cease ; 
Then  hail  the  day  that  saw  his  star  arise, 
When  angel-music  chanted  from  the  skies. 

The  wise  men  saw  that  star  illume  the  east, 
When  holy  rapture  moved  their  grateful  breasts ; 
The  shepherds  sought  him  ere  the  light  of  morn, 
And  Bethlehem  sung,  Behold  a  Saviour 's  born ! 
Let  children  hail  the  day  that  gave  him  birth, 
Till  He  is  prais'd  by  all  the  songs  of  earth. 

123 


RECITATION  BY  A  BOY. 


THE    CENTENARY   OF  METHODISM. 

Farewell  age  of  glory !  Though  passing  away, 
Where  ages  are  lost  in  eternity's  day, 
We  cannot  behold  thee  recede  from  our  sight, 
Till  we  own  thou  hast  crown'd  us  with  mercy 
and  light. 

Thy  doings  shall  live  when  thy  years  are  no 
more, 

And  ages  to  come  shall  thy  glory  adore. 
Philanthropy  blends  in  our  anthems  to  thee, 
And  Patriots  own  'twas  thy  spirit  to  free. 
O'er  fields  of  fell  darkness  thy  light  broke  in 
peace, 

And  millions  rejoic'd  in  thy  years  of  release. 
Thy  blessings  shall  live  in  the  mem'ry  of  earth, 
And  ages  acknowledge  thy  mercy  and  worth. 
Remember'd  and  honour'd  their  names  shall 
remain, 

Whose  lives  were  devoted  in  blessings  to  man ; 
While  Luther  and  Calvin  admir'd  shall  be, 
Who  taught  haughty  prelates  that  conscience 

was  free ; 

124 


\ 

RECITATIONS  BY  BOYS.  125 

While  Wickliffe,  and  Cranmer,  and  Rogers 
the  pure, 

Who  found  'mid  the  fire,  their  faith  could  endure: 
While  the  righteous  shall  live  in  earth's  memory 
young, 

One  name  to  the  annals  of  time  shall  belong : 
While  the  praise  of  the  worthy  each  name  shall 
receive, 

The  name  of  our  Wesley  through  ages  shall 


11* 


RECITATION  BY  A  BOY. 


GOD    PRAISED    BY   HIS  WORKS. 

Creation's  wonders  wide  proclaim, 

Thy  glorious  power,  Lord, 
And  we,  though  young,  would  lisp  thy  name, 

Encouraged  by  thy  word. 

The  golden  orb  that  lights  the  day, 

Thy  loftier  glory  shows, 
And  stars  may  yield  an  humble  ray 

To  speak  thy  glory  too. 

Thus,  while  the  aged  own  thy  love, 

And  pay  their  vows  to  thee, 
We  children  feel  our  bosoms  move, 

To  praise  thy  me^cy  free. 

'Twas  mercy  reign'd  when  God  appear'd, 

Veil'd  in  our  nature's  form ; 
'Twas  mercy  smil'd  on  children  dear, 

And  led  them  to  thine  arms. 

And  sure  thy  mercy  form'd  the  school, 

Where  we  thy  Sabbaths  spend, 
Where  thou  dost  smile — where  thou  dost  rule, 

The  child's  unchanging  friend. 
126 


RECITATIONS  BY  BOYS. 

Thy  mercy  taught  those  hearts  to  pray, 
And  guide  our  youthful  minds, 

Where  we  may  learn  thy  pleasant  ways, 
And  wisdom's  treasures  find. 

0  may  thy  mercy  ever  bless 

Our  parents — teachers — friends — 

The  Sabbath  ever  yield  them  rest, 
And  peace  their  days  attend. 

May  they  with  us,  when  life  shall  close, 
Tell  thy  great  mercy  given ; 

When  in  the  grave  our  forms  repose, 
0  may  we  meet  in  heaven  ! 


MOXODT 


ON  THE  DEATH  ©F  REV.  MELVILLE  B.  COX,  MIS- 
SIONARY TO  LIBERIA. 

[Whose  words,  in  vie??  of  the  probability  of  his  dying  in  Africa, 
were,  "  Let  thousands  fall  before  Africa  be  given  up."] 

[To  be  spoken  by  a  Boy.] 

0  weep.  Salem  weep  !  o'er  the  darkness  en- 
shrouding, 

The  land  where  thy  herald  so  lately  displayed 
The  pennant  of  peace,  while  the  tribes  gladly 
crowding, 

Beheld  the  bright  day-star  that  dawn'd  on 
their  shade. 

Weep,    Salem   weep !  while   the  ocean-wave 

heaving, 

Conues  freighted  with  moaning  from  Africa's 
shore, 

The  parents  and  children  their  hamlets  are 
leaving, 

To  weep  that  the  white  man  who  lov'd  them'a 
no  more. 
128 


RECITATIONS  BY  BOYS. 


129 


From  the  home  of  his  youth, — from  the  land  of 
his  love, 

To  the  place  of  the  stranger  he  fearlessly  sped, 
By  the  pure  love  of  heaven  his  bosom  was  moved, 
And  his  mission  bore  life  to  the  dark  and  the 
dead. 

Thou  land  long  in  sorrow,  to  thee  he  convey'd 
The  pledge  of  the  pious,  the  learned  and 
free  ; 

On  thine  altars  the  word  of  our  promise  is  laid, 
And  his  life  was  the  seal  of  our  covenant 
with  thee. 

His  voice  in  thy  temple,  Liberia,  was  heard, 
When  his  heart  burn'd  to  publish  the  year  of 
release, 

To  gather  the  tribes  round  the  cross  of  his  Lord, 
And  bid  them  rejoice  in  the  tidings  of  peace. 

Where  the  palm-leaf  is  fann'd  by  the  wind's 
passing  breath, 
Where  the  stream  gently  washes  its  gold- 
cover'd  bed, 
He  wept  o'er  the  Negro,  most  injur'd  of  earth, 
And  heaven  hath  number'd  the  tears  that 
he  shed. 

He  comes  not  to  us  with  the  faith-stirring  story, 
Nor  tells  of  thy  white  fields  for  harvest  pre* 
pared, 


130 


SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SPEAKER. 


But  dropping  the  mantle  he  rises  to  glory, 
To  tell  of  thy  groanings,  where  groanings  are 
heard. 

Though  his  frame  is  far  hence,  'yond  the  dark 
rolling  wave, 
Where  the  tread  of  the  white  man  but  seldom 
shall  come ; 

Yet  oft  shall  her  children  encompass  his  grave, 
And  Africa  dwell  on  his  memory  long. 

We  will  weep_we  will  weep— for  we  know  that 
he  lov'd, 

"All  nations,  and  kindred,  and  people' '  were 
dear ; 

And  oft  when  compassion  his  bosom  has  moved, 
His  cheek  was  impearl'd  with  humanity's  tear. 

We  will  weep— we  will  weep— tho'  we  know  that 
his  spirit, 

Hath  enter'd  that  world  where  the  martyrs 
have  gone, 

To  share  in  the  glory  which  martyrs  inherit, 
Where,  honour'd  of  Jesus,  they  dwell  near  hia 
throne. 


FAREWELL  TO  THE  MISSIONARIES, 

BY  A  BOY. 

Go  !  heralds  of  Jesus  !  we  bid  tliee  farewell ! 

No  longer  from  Afric  would  hold  thee  away ; 
Her  hands  are  extended— in  tears  she  would  tell 

Her  hope  in  thy  coming — her  sorrow  to  stay. 

Go  !  heralds  of  Jesus  !  whom  still  we  would  love, 
Go !  go !  to  the  people  in  darkness  who  sit, 

Our  kindness  a  savour  of  mourning  would  prove, 
To  hold  thee  from  Afric,  or  part  with  regret. 

Go  !  heralds  of  J esus !  with  light  from  the  Lord, 
To  shine  on  the  regions  of  sorrow  and  d.eath, 
God  guide  thee — and  speed  thee— when  bearing 
his  word, 

And  gild  with  his  glory  the  length  of  thy  path. 

Go  !  heralds  of  Jesus  !    Farewell  we  must  say, 
Our  prayers  we  here  pledge  to  the  land  of  thy 
heart, 

We'll  meet  when  thy  crown  shall  be  bright  in 
that  day, 

When  the  friends  of  the  Saviour  meet  never  to 
part. 

131 


RECITATION  BY  A  BOY. 


TRIUMPH  OF  TEMPERANCE. 

Exult  with  joy,  0  earth ! 

For  God  hath  heard  thy  cry ; 
A  glorious  day  hath  birth, 
Its  star  is  on  the  sky : 
Though  long  thy  night,  and  deep  its  gloom, 
Arise — arise — thy  light  has  come  ! 

m 

Amid  the  storm  of  wrath, 

When  ruin's  deluge  reign'd, 
He  saw  the  direful  death, 
And  bade  the  ruin  end ; 
Deliverance  came — the  ark  was  rear'd, 
And  o'er  the  flood  the  bow  appear'd. 

What  though  that  foe  is  strong  ? 

E'en  "legion"  his  dread  name? 
Though  of  the  wrathful  throng, 
His  is  the  loftiest  fame  ? 
Thy  help  descends  from  yonder  throne, 
And  victory  is  the  Lord's  alone ! 
132 


BECITATIONS  BY  BOYS.  181 


'Twas  God  who  saw  thy  fears, 

Who  heard  thy  thousands  sigh — 
When  thou,  abas'd  in  tears, 

Scarce  hop'd  that  help  was  nigh, 
He  dash'd  the  cup  that  hell  had  given, 
And  show'd  the  crystal  fount  of  heaven 

Thine,  Lord !  is  all  the  power, 

Far  may  thy  conquests  spread, 
The  demon  reign  no  more, 

When  thou  shalt  bruise  his  head ; 
The  world  renew'd  to  thee  shall  come, 
And  all  rejoice  in  Eden's  bloom. 


RECITATION  BY  A  GIRL. 


CONTEMPLATION  ON  THE  WORKS  OF  GOB. 

I  love  the  morn's  first  light  to  view, 

When  evening  shades  are  driven ; 
I  love  the  glistening  drops  of  dew, 

They  seem  the  tears  of  heaven ; 
That  morning  tells  a  brighter  day, 

Shall  soon  be  brought  to  light, 
When  tears  shall  all  be  wiped  away, 

By  Him  who  rules  aright. 

I  love  to  view  yon  flaming  sun, 

The  night  and  clouds  drive  far, 
Rejoicing  in  his  course  to  run, 

«  The  bright  and  morning  star ;" 
He  shows  the  way  of  Him  who  rules, 

Though  oft  in  clouds  enthron'd, 
Where  righteousness  and  judgment  dwell, 

And  God  i3  fully  known. 

I  love,  amid  the  calm  of  night, 

T'  admire  yon  arch  of  blue ; 
In  the  expanse  that  bounds  the  sight, 

The  starry-vale  to  view, 

134 


KECITATIONS. 


135 


They  show  that  on  the  deeper  gloom, 
Where  death  his  curtain  spreads, 

A  starry  light  breaks  on  the  tomb, 
To  watch  the  sleeping  dead, 

What  gives  the  stars  that  tranquil  light, 

In  which  they  love  to  glow  ? 
The  sun  himself  hath  sunk  in  night, 

That  radiant  host  to  show. 
Thus  sunk  the  Sun  of  righteousness, 

That  man  might  be  forgiven, 
He  'lumes,  while  saints  have  spread  his  grac&, 

The  hemisphere  of  heaveji. 

Thy  word — thy  Spirit— and  thy  works, 

Thine  attributes  declare ; 
And  while  thy  hand  all  nature  marks, 

May  I  thy  image  bear. 
Then  when  these  things  shall  be  dissolv'd,™ 

The  world  have  passed  away, — 
When  sun  and  stars  no  more  revolve— 

Thy  glory  be  my  day ! 


PART  VI. 


RECITATIONS  BY  SMALL  BOYS. 


RECITATION  BY  A  SMALL  BOY. 

HOPE  OF  HEAVEN. 

God's  works  proclaim  His  power  and  love, 
Through  earth,  and  sea,  and  sky? 

He  rules  in  angel-hosts  above, 
Yet  hears  the  raven's  cry. 

Around  us  all  his  arms  are  spread, 
'Tis  through  his  grace  we  live ; 

0  may  He  here  his  Spirit  shed, 
To  all  his  blessings  give. 

While  many  here  his  grace  have  tried, 

I  too  would  lisp  his  name, 
Would  point  to  Jesus  crucified, 

And  say,  "  Behold  the  Lamb." 

139 


140  SUN1>AY  SCHOOL  SPEAKER. 


Then  when  our  earthly  days  are  o'er, 
And  Sabbath  schools  shall  end, 

May  we  before  yon  throne  adore, 
The  child's  eternal  friend. 

0  may  I  meet  my  parents  there, 

And  my  dear  teaehers  too, 
With  all  who  love  the  place  of  prayey, 

And — children — all  of  you. 


V 


RECITATION  BY  A  VERY  SMALL  BOY. 

THE  GREAT  ORATOR. 

Although  Tm  not  so  big  nor  old, 

As  many  boys  I  see, 
Yet  it  will  take  a  boy  who 's  bold, 

To  speak  a  piece,  like  me, 

I'll  make  my  bow,  and  wave  my  hand, 

And  then  begin  my  speech ; 
But  you  must  watch  to  understand, 

Be  still — or  I  can't  preach ! 

The  ocean  in  its  grandeur  flows — 

The  trees  are  great  and  tall — 
The  mighty  earth  is  round,  you  know, 

Just  like  my  little  ball. 

The  stars  shine  out,  when  clouds  allow  ■* 

The  horses  love  to  run — 
And  now  I'll  make  my  little  bow, 

And  say  my  speech  is  done  I 


141 


RECITATION  BY  A  VERY  SMALL  BOY, 

LITTLE  SAMUEL. 

0  what  a  good  and  lovely  boy, 

Was  little  Samuel,  true ; 
And  great  was  Hannah's  holy  joy, 

Her  lovely  son  to  view. 

Through  day  and  night  his  mind's  first  care, 

Was  fix'd  upon  the  Lord, 
And  oft  he  went  in  faith  and  prayer, 

To  hear  his  Maker's  word. 

In  the  lone  hour  of  silent  night, 

When  sleep  to  others  came, 
No  darkness  could  his  heart  affright, 

His  shield,  Jehovah's  name. 

And  when  he  heard  his  Maker's  call, 

His  heart  was  not  afraid  : 
He  'rose  and  went  to  Eli's  hall, 

To  tell  what  he  had  heard. 

0  may  each  little  boy  now  here, 

Be  like  young  Samuel,  mild ; 
And  early  taught  his  Maker's  fear, 

Each  be  a  prayerful  child. 
142 


RECITATION  BY  A  VERY  SMALL  BOY. 


THE  LITTLE  TRAVELIER. 

0  how  I  love  to  ride,  in  a  rail-road  car, 

With  horses  or  with  steam  I  go,  and  never  mind 
how  far. 

1  love  to  see  the  long — long  road,  while  far 

ahead  I  look, 
And  often  turn  around,  to  see  the  geese  upon 
the  brook ; 

While  all  along  the  lovely  fields,  the  pretty 
sheep  are  seen, 

Some  sporting  by  their  mother's  side,  some  rest- 
ing on  the  green, 

I  love  to  see  the  little  squirrel,  that  hops  upon 
the  tree, 

And  listen  to  the  little  bird,  that  sweetly  sings 
for  me ; 

I  love  to  see  the  steamboat  go,  while  on  the 

shore  I  stand, 
Nor  ever  fear  that  I  will  fall,  while  father  holds 

my  hand. 

I  love  to  see  the  cloud  of  smoke,  that  rises  to 
the  sky, 

And  listen  to  the  water-wheels,  while  'round  and 
'round  they  fly ; 

143 


144  SOTDAY  SCHOOL  SPEAKER. 

I  love,  when  I  am  through  my  walk,  and  I  hare 
had  my  tea, 

To  say  my  little  evening  prayer,  when  bowed 

upon  my  knee : 
And  then  I  go  to  bed  to  rest,  beneath  my 

Saviour's  care, 
For  when  I  sleep  or  when  I  wake,  I  know  that 

God  is  near. 


PART  VII. 

/ 

RECITATIONS  BY  SMALL  GIKLS.  . 

 9  

RECITATION  BY  A  GIRL. 

THE  BIBLE. 

The  Bible  !  Blest  book,  to  my  heart  ever  dear, 
Thou  shield  of  the  spirit,  when  sorrow  is  near ; 
Though  the  pleasures  may  fade  which  from  earth 

we  receive, 
The  joys  of  thy  giving,  forever  shall  live. 

The  heart  of  sweet  childhood,  thy  pleasures  may 
prove, 

Like  flowers  of  beauty  in  gardens  of  love ; 
But  earth's  brightest  flowers  must  all  meet  decay, 
While  religion  shall  bloom  in  eternity's  day. 

The  steps  of  young  childhood  may  bound  o'er 
the  earth, 

But  those  steps  ever  tend  to  the  valley  of  death  ; 
When  led  by  thy  light  o'er  that  valley  we  see, 
The  land  from  all  sorrow  and  sin  ever  free. 

147 


148  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SPEAKER. 

Be  thou,  precious  Bible  !  the  guide  of  our  y*uth, 
A  shield  of  pure  virtue— a  helmet  of  truth ; 
0  guide  us,  as  Israel,  to  Canaan's  abode, 
A  pillar  of  glory— the  symbol  of  God 


RECITATION  BY  A  GIRL. 

/ 

THE  BLIND  GrIRL. 

Dark  clouds  were  spreading  o'er  the  sky, 

And  cold  the  wind  did  blow, 
A  little  girl  came  treading  by, 

And  felt  her  way  so  slow. 

I  saw  that  she  was  wholly  blind, 

So  wild  her  eye-balls  glare, 
And  then  she  tried  the  door  to  find, 

While  I  was  standing  there. 

Her  little  cheeks  were  bright  and  red, 

Her  auburn  curls  were  fair, 
A  little  hood  was  o'er  her  head, 

But  Oh  !  her  feet  were  bare. 

"  Give  me  a  cent,"  she  said  so  mild, 
"  To  buy  my  mother  bread ;" 

Said  I,  "  where  is  your  father,  child  ?" 
She  sighed,  «  my  father's  dead." 

«  My  mother,  she  is  sick  and  poor, 
Two  days  we've  had  no  food : 

We've  never  ask'd  for  help  before, 
For  mother's  health  was  good." 

13*  149 


150  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SPEAKEE. 

Oh  !  how  I  pitied  that  poor  child, 
So  poor,  and  without  sight ; 

Her  eye-balls  roll'd  so  very  wild, 
And  all  her  life  a  night. 

I  gave  her  all  my  little  store 
Of  pennies,  though  but  three, 

And  told  her  1  would  give  her  more, 
Whene'er  she  came  to  me. 

"Poor  little  girl !"  said  I  to  her, 
"  What  sorrow  you  must  know : 

You  never  saw  a  flower  fair, 
Nor  view'd  a  sun-set  glow." 

"  Oh  !  no  !"  she  said,  with  gentle  sigh 
«  These  joys  I  never  knew; 

But  in  the  world  that's  o'er  the  sky, 
I'll  see  as  well  as  you." 

I  thought  how  thankful  should  we  oe, 
To  whom  the  Lord  gives  sight ; 

Our  friends  and  parents  we  can  see, 
And  all  the  day  is  light. 


J 


RECITATION  BY  A  SMALL  GIRL. 

THE  LAMBS  OF  JESUS. 

'Tis  Christmas  day — a  lovely  day, 

When  little  hearts  like  mine, 
Would  haste  where  Christians  love  to  pray, 

And  in  their  worship  join. 

I'm  little — and  I'm  very  young, 

But  yet  I  know  the  Lord, 
Will  hear  a  little  infant's  song, 

'Tis  promis'd  in  his  word. 

The  Lord  is  prais'd  by  yonder  sun, 

Who  spreads  his  glory  far ; 
And  so  he's  prais'd  by  every  one 

Of  yon  bright  little  stars. 

I  know  from  desk  and  altar  too, 

And  by  yon  choir  he's  prais'd, 
But  me  he'll  hear  as  well  as  you, 

Though  feeble  are  my  lays. 

One  Christmas  morning,  well  you  know, 

Long — long  before  'twas  day, 
When  shepherds  watch' d  through  cold  and  snoWj 

To  keep  the  wolves  away. 

151 


152  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SPEAKER. 


Their  sheep  were  many,  yet  I'm  sure, 
Their  lambs  were  many  too, 

And  children  need  a  shepherd  more 
Than  those  who  re  strong  like  you. 

Then  come  and  view  our  Sunday  school, 
Where  dwell  his  lambs  in  peace ; 

And  there  He  says,  in  gentle  smiles, 
"  Of  such  my  kingdom  is." 


I 


Pi 

RECITATION  BY  A  SMALL  GIEL. 

i ; 

When  J esus  was  a  little  child, 

Not  near  so  big  as  we, 
The  priest  was  glad,  and  calmly  smil'd, 

The  harmless  one  to  see. 

And  when  a  little  larger  grown, 

He  lov'd  the  place  of  prayer ; 
And  Mary  cften  took  her  son, 

To  praise  and  worship  there. 

Yea,  when  he  grew  to  be  a  man, 

And  sat  perhaps  like  you,* 
The  little  children  eager  ran, 

For  they  his  mercy  knew. 

He  bless'd  them  all,  and  kindly  said, 

0  suffer  them  to  come, 
And  on  his  bosom  gently  laid 

The  feeble  and  the  young. 

And  well  I  know,  that  Jesus  still, 

Delights  the  young  to  bless, 
When  they  with  praise  his  temple  fill, 

And  here  implore  his  grace. 

*  Pointing  to  the  minister. 

153  jl 


*, 


RECITATION  BY  A  SMALL  GIRL. 


FLOWERS— EMBLEMATIC  OF  CHILDHOOD. 

0 !  how  like  a  garden  of  beautiful  flowers, 

This  throng  of  sweet  children  so  fair, 
And  the  church  seems  to  me  like  a  beautiful 
bower, 

All  fragrant  with  singing  and  prayer. 

One  glows  like  the  dahlia— some  blush  like  the 

rose. 

Some  fair  as  the  lily  so  pure, 
And  all  seem  to  smile  as  unconscious  of  wo, 
•   As  if  destin'd  for  e'er  to  endure.  ' 

Kind  eyes  now  surround  us,  and  beam  with 
delight, 

And  friendship  that  e'er  would  defend, 
Should  danger  e'er  come,  a  lov'd  flower  to  blight, 
Or  the  cold  or  the  tempest  descend. 

But  0  !  how  delightful  those  bowers  on  high, 
Where  the  storm  never  ventures  to  come ; 

No  flower  in  heaven  shall  wither  or  die, 
F or  ever  and  ever  they  bloom. 
154 


/ 


RECITATION  BY  A  SMALL  GIEL. 

THE  DEAD  BIRD. 
[To  be  spoken  with  a  dead  bird  in  her  hand.] 

My  dear  little  bird,  with  its  golden  wing, 
That  fluttered  and  chirped  when  I  wished  it  to 
sing, 

I've  spread  on  its  cage  the  new  grass  and  the 
flower, 

As  it  warbled  so  glad  in  its  bright  little  bower. 

My  dear  little  bird — from  the  window  it  hung, 
And  its  song  on  the  breeze  of  the  morning  it 
flung, 

How  gladly  it  perched  when  my  hand  would 
caress, 

And  it  seemed  in  my  smile  to  be  perfectly  blest 

My  dear  little  bird— no  more  wilt  thou  sing, 
Nor  flutter  around,  with  thy  once  merry  wing, 
Thou  art  dead— little  bird— and  all  hushed  is 
thy  voice, 

No  more  in  thy  music  my  heart  shall  rejoice, 

155 


156 


SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SPEAKER. 


My  dear  little  bird — how  the  pleasures  of  earth, 
Like  thee  hare  their  ending,  almost  in  their 
birth, 

Like  the  song  of  the  bird,  like  its  wing  bright 
and  gay, 

A.  moment  they  cheer  us,  then  hasten  away 


RECITATION  BY  A  LITTLE  GIRL. 

THE  BUTTERFLY. 

[To  be  spoken  with  a  bouquet  in  the  hand,  with  a  butterfl) 

upon  it.] 

I  love,  when  the  trees  are  all  cover'd  with  green, 

And  the  flowers  of  Summer  are  there, 
To  run  through  the  fields  where  the  butterfly's 
seen, 

And  chase  it  'mong  blossoms  so  fair. 

When  I've  caught  it,  I  love  on  its  beauties  to 

'gaze, 

And  wonder  what  made  it  so  fine, 
Its  wings  soft  as  velvet  all  bordered  with  lace, 
While  its. head  like  a  diadem  shines. 

Who  made  it  ?    'Twas  God,  the  Creator  of  all, 
Whose  throne  is  so  high  in  the  sky; 

And  when  in  the  tempest  all  wet  it  may  fall, 
God  sees  e'en  the'poor  butterfly. 

I'll  chase  it— I'll  catch  it— and  gently  I'll  hold, 

In  the  garden  so  lovely  and  gay, 
And  I'll  place  it  again  on  the  bright  marigold, 

And  watch  till  it  flies  far  away. 

14  157 


158  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SPEAKER. 

Go— butterfly,  go— I  am  little,  like  you ; 

In  my  hands  I'd  not  have  thee  to  die ; 
I'll  chase  thee  again  through  the  flowers  and 
dew, 

But  I  won't  hurt  the  dear  butterfly. 


I 


RECITATION  BY  A  VERY  SMALL  GIRL. 

THE  PET  RABBIT. 
[To  be  spoken  with  a  little  toy  rabbit  in  the  hand.] 

Hush  !  hush !  little  children,  I  've  something  to 
say, 

Now,  don't  make  a  noise,  or  you'll  fright  me 
away; 

I've  a  dear  little  rabbit,  who,  could  it  but  see, 
Would  run  from  your  presence  so  skittish  and 
free. 

I  pet  it — I  nurse  it — it 's  pretty  and  white, 
It  lies  by  my  side  through  the  dark,  lonely  night ; 
It  keeps  by  my  chair  through  the  whole  of  the 
day, 

I  suppose,  if  alive,  it  would  oft  run  away. 

There's  beauty  in  all  things,  little  and  fair : 
A  dew-drop — a  rose-hud — a  bird  in  the  air  ; 
A  pet  lamb — a  rabbit,  so  gentle  and  mild, 
And  the  bright  little  eyes9  of  a  dear  little %iild, 


159 


RECITATION  BY  A  VERY  SMALL  GIRL. 

WHAT  I  LOVE. 

Pkay,  won't  you  hear  what  I  Ve  to  say? 

Although  I  m  very  young  ? 
Now  boys  be  silent,  right  away, 

And  girls,  each  hold  your  tongue. 

I  '11  tell  you  what  I  love  to  see, 

Although  I  am  so  small, 
I  love  a  puss  that 's  kind  to  me, 

And  love  a  pretty  doll. 

I  love  to  see  young  children  fair, 

Who  never  speak  unkind, 
Who  always  for  each  other  care, 

And  who  their  parents  mind. 

I  love  a  Sabbath  Infant  school^ 

Where  happy  children  meet, 
Where  every  hymn  of  love  is  full, 

And  nothing  gives  regret 

I  love  to  see  a  pretty  yard, 

All  full  of  lovely  flowers, 
I  love  to  see  a  little  bird, 

That  sings  as  sweet  as  ours. 

160 


I 


RECITATIONS  BY  GIRLS. 

love  our  country's  flag  so  bright, 
High  waving  in  the  air, 
love  its  stripes  of  red  and  white, 
And  every  star  that 's  there. 


161 


if 


i 


i 


PART  VIII 

BIBLE  CLASS  LESSONS. 


BIBLE  CLASS  LESSON.  , 

[The  class  to  consist  of  ten.] 
JOSEPH  REVEALING  HIMSELF  TO  HIS  BRETHREN. 

— Gen.  45. 

Textual  Questions. 

Verse  1.  What  could  not  Joseph  do  ? 
What  did  he  cry  ? 

To  whom  did  he  make  himself  known  ? 

2.  What  did  he  do  ? 
Who  heard  him  ?  - 

3.  What  did  he  say  ? 
Did  they  answer  him  ? 
Why  not  ? 

4.  What  did  he  then  say  ? 

What  did  he  say  when  they  came  near  ? 

[Let  each  child  here  repeat  a  verse  until  the  13th  verse  k 
eepeated.] 

165 


166  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SPEAKER. 


14.  What  did  he  do  to  Benjamin  ? 
What  did  Benjamin  do  to  him  ? 

15.  What  did  he  do  to  the  rest  of  his  bre- 
thren ? 

What  occurred  after  this  ? 

16.  What  effect  had  this  matter  when  heard 
in  Pharaoh's  house  ? 

17.  What  direction  did  Pharaoh  give  to  Jo- 
seph ? 

[Let  each  succeeding  child  repeat  a  verse  until  the  17th, 
18th,  19th  and  20th  are  repeated.] 

21.  What  did  Joseph  give  his  brethren  ? 

22.  What  did  he  give  to  Benjamin  ? 

24.  What  advice  did  he  give  to  them  upon 
their  departure  ? 

26.  What  did  they  say  when  they  reached 
their  father  ? 

What  effect  had  this  intelligence  upon  Jacob  ? 

27.  What  served  to  convince  him  ? 

28.  What  did  he  say  ? 

Intellectual  Questions* 

Verse  1.  Question.  In  the  tenderness  exhi 
bited  by  J oseph  in  weeping,  was  there  any  evi- 
dence of  weakness  ? 

Answer.  There  was  not.  Although  it  is  a  duty 
to  bear  with  fortitude  whatever  afflictions  may 
befall  us,  yet  the  circumstances  were  calculated 


BIBLE  CLASS  LESSONS.  167 


deeply  to  affect  him.    In  the  entire  of  his  his- 
tory,  Joseph  exhibits  great  firmness;  yet  it  is 
not  wonderful  that  as  a  son  and  brother  his  feel 
ings  upon  this  occasion  were  intensely  excited. 

Q.  What  was  there  to  excite  this  tenderness? 

A.  The  anguish  of  his  brethren,  whose  inju- 
ries to  himself  he  was  now  about  to  forgive,  and 
the  hope  of  seeing  his  aged  father  again,  excited 
almost  overwhelming  emotions. 

Q.  Do  you  see  any  particular  wisdom  in 
the  mode  by  which  Joseph  addressed  his  bre- 
thren ? 

A.  The  whole  manner  was  most  touching,  and 
well  calculated  to  bring  them  into  that  tender 
state  of  feeling  which  he  desired.  First  declar- 
ing himself  as  their  brother  Joseph,  then  asking 
"  doth  my  father  yet  live  ?"  and  following  up 
the  inquiry  by  saying,  « I  am  Joseph,  your  bro- 
ther, whom  ye  sold  into  Egypt." 

Q.  In  saying,  «  so  now  it  was  not  you  that 
sent  me  hither,  but  God,"  does  Joseph  mean  to 
exonerate  them  from  guilt  ? 

A.  By  no  means.  He  only  means  that  he  for- 
gave them,  inasmuch  as  God  had  overruled  their 
purposes.  His  spirit  was  similar  to  that  after- 
ward evinced  by  David,  who,  lamenting  the 
death  of  Saul  and  Jonathan,  says,  "Saul  and 
Jonathan  were  lovely  and  pleasant  in  their 
iives."    Saul's  history  shows  that  be  was  not 


168  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SPEAKER. 


pleasant  in  many  things,  but  David,  in  moments 
of  forgiveness,  overlooked  the  many  wrongs  he 
had  suffered. 

Q.  What  great  lesson  are  we  thus  taught  ? 

A.  That  "  charity  covers  a  multitude  of  sins," 
and  that  kindness  is  the  best  way  of  heaping 
coals  of  fire  upon  the  head  of  an  enemy. 

Q.  What  would  you  infer  from  the  effect 
which  these  things  had  upon  Pharaoh  and  his 
house  ? 

A.  That  they  entertained  for  the  virtues  of 
Joseph  the  highest  respect. 

Q.  What  did  Joseph  mean  by  saying,  « see 
that  ye  fall  not  out  by  the  way  ?" 

A.  Probably  it  was  to  caution  them  against 
getting  into  any  dispute  respecting  their  indi- 
vidual measure  of  guilt  in  their  ill-treatment  of 
him,  or  in  the  manner  in  which  the  matter  of 
their  guilt  should  be  revealed  to  their  father. 

Q.  In  what  respect  could  such  caution  be 
necessary  ? 

A.  As  yet  Jacob  had  no  intimation  that  Jo- 
seph was  living.  They  were  fully  aware  of  the 
humiliation  which  awaited  them,  when  their  aged 
father  should  be  made  acquainted  with  their 
cruelty.  In  discussing  the  mode  of  disclosure, 
there  was  great  danger  of  their  seeking  to  cri- 
minate each  other. 

Q.  What  instruction  does  this  afford  ? 


BIBLE  CLASS  LESSONS. 


169 


A.  That  there  is  no  hour  in  which  brethren 
should  cease  to  watch  against  discord. 

^  Q.  Upon  what  point,  in  the  history  of  Joseph, 
did  they  fix,  in  disclosing  his  position  to  their 
father  ? 

A.  That  he  was  "  governor  over  all  the  land 
of  Egypt." 

Q.  Was  this  announcement  of  his  elevation 
made  to  excite  the  pride  of  his  father  ? 

A.  It  was  not.  It  was  made  to  encourage 
him  to  go  into  a  land  where  his  posterity  might 
be  prosperous,  seeing  that  his  son  had  attained 
to  such  distinction. 

Q.  Was  the  unbelief  with  which  Jacob  re- 
ceived their  statement  at  first  unaccountable  ? 

A.  I  should  suppose  not.  The  evidence  upon 
which  he  had  believed  Joseph  to  have  been  slain 
was  so  strong,  that  it  was  not  remarkable  that 
he  should  doubt  their  present  statement. 

Q.  What  was  his  expression  when  he  saw  the 
wagons  and  believed  ? 

A.  "Joseph  my  son  is  yet  alive:  I  will  go 
and  see  him  before  I  die."  * 

Q.  Of  whom  are  we  reminded  when  we  reflect 
upon  Joseph's  forgiveness  of  his  brethren  ? 

A.  We  are  reminded  of  our  blessed  Saviour, 
who  was  sold  by  his  brethren  for  thirty  pieces  of 
silver;  and  who,  upon  the  cross,  said,  "Father 
forgive  them,  they  know  not  what  they  do." 

15 


170  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SPEAKER. 

Q.  What  does  this  estimable  conduct  of  Jo- 
seph teach  us  ? 

A.  That  under  all  the  injuries  we  may  suffer, 
we  should  be  most  anxious  to  bring  those  to 
repentance  who  have  injured  us,  and  be  ever 
ready  to  extend  to  them  the  forgiveness  we  trust 
to  obtain  from  God  on  our  own  behalf 


I 

m 


I 


BIBLE  CLASS  LESSON. 

[For  twelve — six  boys  and  six  girls.] 
THE  PRESERVATION  OF  MOSES  Exodus  ii.  1-10. 

Textual  Questions.  » 

Verse  1.  Of  what  house  were  the  parents  of 
Moses  ? 

2.  How  long  did  his  mother  hide  him  ? 

3.  When  she  found  she  could  no  longer  hide 
him,  what  did  she  do  with  him  ? 

Of  what  was  the  ark  made  ? 
How  was  it  prepared  ? 
Where  did  she  place  the  ark  ? 

4.  Who  remained  to  watch  him  ? 

5.  Who  came  to  wash  herself  at  the  river  ? 
What  did  her  maidens  do  ? 

What  did  the  princess  do  upon  seeing  the  ark  ? 

6.  What  occurred  when  she  opened  the  ark  ? 
What  effect  had  its  weeping  upon  the  prin- 
cess ? 

What  did  she  say  ? 

7.  Who  then  addressed  her  ? 
What  did  his  sister  say  ? 

171 


172 


SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SPEAKER 


&.  Did  the  princess  consent  ? 
Whom  did  she  call  ? 

9.  What  did  the  princess  say  to  her  ? 
What  did  the  mother  do  ? 

10.  What  afterwards  occurred  to  the  child? 
What  was  he  called  ? 

Why  was  he  called  Moses  ? 

Intellectual  Questions. 

Verse  1.  Question.  What  is  meant  by  being 
of  the  house  of  Levi? 

Answer.  A  descendant  of  the  family  and 
tribe  of  Levi. 

Q.  Who  was  Levi  ? 

A.  The  third  son  of  Jacob.  His  descendants 
became  the  tribe  from  which  the  priests  were 
selected.  Thus  the  great  lawgiver,  Moses,  was 
selected  from  this  peculiarly  religious  family. 

3.  Q.  What  was  the  ark  of  bulrushes  ? 

A.  It  was  a  small  boat  or  basket,  made  of  the 
papyrus,  or  bulrush. 

Q.  Where  does  this  plant  usually  grow  ? 

A.  Most  abundantly  upon  the  banks  of  the 
Nile,  and  in  marshy  grounds. 

Q.  Yfhy  did  she  daub  it  with  slime  and  with 
pitch  ? 

A.  To  render  it  water-proof.  Much  the  same 
method  is  still  employed  in  closing  up  the  seams 
of  vessels,  as  they  fill  them  with  melted  pitch. 


BIBLE  CLASS  LESSONS.  173 

Q.  Why  did  the  mother  adopt  this  mode,  do 
you  suppose,  of  trying  to  save  the  child,  instead 
of  taking  it  at  once  to  the  palace  ? 

A.  As  the  more  likely  means.  At  the  close 
of  the  first  chapter,  we  are  told  that  Pharaoh, 
the  king,  had  cruelly  decreed,  «  Every  son  that 
is  born  ye  shall  cast  into  the  river.' '  It  is, 
therefore,  probable,  that  the  mother  adopted 
this  method,  hoping,  as  she  could  no  longer  hide 
the  child,  that  she  might  literally  conform  to 
the  decree,  and  possibly  preserve  its  life. 

Q.  Is  it  probable  that  she  had  any  reference 
to  the  princess  in  this  matter  ? 

A.  It  is.  As  bathing  in  those  countries  was 
a  frequent  practice,  and  regularly  observed,  and 
as  it  is  most  likely  a  princess  would  have  some 
one  place  for  that  purpose,  the  mother  doubtless 
hoped  that  the  child  would  attract  her  attention 
and  secure  her  compassion. 

6.  Q.  What  occurred  when  she  opened  the  ark  I 

A.  The  babe  wept. 

.;  Q.  Is  there  any  thing  seemingly  providential, 
in  that  incident  ? 

A.  There  is.  Nothing  touches  the  feelings 
of  humanity  more  than  the  sight  of  an  innocent 
lovely  child  in  distress.  It  was,  therefore,  well 
calculated  to  touch  the  heart  of  the  princess. 

Q.  What  is  indicated  in  her  expression,  «  ihm 
is  one  of  the  Hebrew's  children"  ? 

15* 


174 


SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SPEAKER. 


A.  As  many  children  were  daily  thrown  into 
the  river,  doubtless  the  heart  of  the  princess 
had  often  been  melted  at  the  sufferings  of  the 
poor  Hebrew  women,  and  the  plaintive  cry  of 
this  lovely  infant  was  likely  to  bring  to  her  own 
bosom  a  sense  of  the  anguish  of  the  poor  He- 
brew mothers,  and  to  prompt  to  a  strong  desire 
to  save  it. 

7.  Q.  What  do  you  perceive  in  the  conduct 
of  his  sister  ? 

A.  Great  affection  and  wisdom.  As  the  prin- 
cess might  have  been  much  embarrassed  to  know 
what  to  do  with  the  child,  it  was  peculiarly 
timely  to  propose  to  call  one  of  the  Hebrew 
women  to  nurse  it. 

9.  Q.  What  did  the  princess  say  to  the 
mother  ? 

A.  "Take  this  child,"  &e.  [Repeat  the 
verse.'] 

10.  Q.  Why  was  he  called  Moses  ? 

A.  Because  that  word,  in  the  Egyptian  lan- 
guage,-signifies  "one  drawn  out  of  the  water." 

Q.  What  may  we  learn  from  the  manner  of 
his  preservation  ? 

A.  That  his  mother  and  sister  acted  wisely  in 
not  sinking  into  despair.  Even  providence  re- 
quires our  best  exertions. 

Q.  What  other  truth  does  it  teach  us  ? 

A.  That  God  uses  often  the  feeblest  agencies 


BIBLE  CLASS  LESSONS.  175 

m  the  achievement  of  his  greatest  purposes. 
Though  intending  the  preservation  of  Moses, 
for  great  and  exalted  purposes,  yet  he  employed 
his  natural  guardians  as  co-workers  in  his  pur- 
poses. 

Q.  Perhaps  you  may  discover  in  his  preser- 
vation something  further. 

A.  We  can  see  how  God  can  make  even  the 
"  wrath  of  man  to  praise  him  ;"  for  the  daughter 
of  the  very  king  who  made  this  dreadful  decree, 
is  made  the  instrument  of  raising  up  the  remark- 
able man  who  was  to  be  the  temporal  redeemer 
of  Israel. 

Q.  Had  this  king  any  right  to  make  such  a 
decree  ? 

A.  Surely  not.  But  under  despotic  govern- 
ments and  heathen  institutions  the  lives  of  chil- 
dren are  but  little  valued. 

Q.  What  does  the  author  of  our  blessed  reli- 
gion say  of  children  ? 

A.  «  Suffer  little  children  to  come  unto  me, 
and  forbid  them  not ;  for  of  such  is  the  king- 
dom of  heaven. " 

Q.  What  influence  ought  this  consideration 
to  have  upon  us  ? 

A.  To  be  grateful  for  the  blessings  of  Chris- 
tianity, and  to  cherish  the  institutions  of  a 
country  whose  government  respects  the  life  of 
the  humblest. 


-BIBLE  CLASS  LESSON. 


[Six  boys  and  six  girls.] 

Solomon's  prayer  for  wisdom  1  Kings  iu. 

1-15. 

Textual  Questions. 
Verse  1.  Whom  did  Solomon  marry  ? 
What  did  he  build  ? 

2.  Where  did  the  people  sacrifice  ? 

Why?  ' 

3.  Whom  did  Solomon  love  ? 
How  did  he  walk  ? 

How  did  he  worship  ? 

Where  ?       ,.  V  r    '  \ 

4.  Where  did  he  afterward  go  ? 
For  what  ? 

Why  ? 

What  did  he  offer  upon  that  altar  < 

5.  Where  did  the  Lord  appear  to  Solomon  ? 
How  ? 

What  did  the  Lord  say  to  Solomon  ? 

6.  What  did  Solomon  reply  ? 

[Let  one  of  the  class  repeat  the  6th  verse,  the  next  the  7th 
verse,  &c.] 

176 


BIBLE  CLASS  LESSONS.  177 

10.  What  resulted  from  Solomon's  speech  ? 

11.  What  did  the  Lord  then  say  to  him  ? 

[Here,  as  above,  let  a  verse  be  spoken  by  each,  until  the  foul 
verses  are  repeated.] 

15.  What  did  Solomon  perceive  when  he 
awoke  ? 

Where  did  he  go  ? 

What  did  he  then  do  ? 

Intellectual  Questions. 

Verse  2.  Question.  What  do  you  understand 
by  the  high  places  ? 

Answer.  It  appears  to  have  been  usual  to  have 
the  worship  of  God  upon  mountains,  before  the 
building  of  the  temple.  Abraham  worshipped 
upon  a  mountain. 

Q.  Do  you  remember  any  other  instance  ? 

A.  Moses  went  up  into  a  mountain,  and  there 
received  the  law. 

Q.  Can  you  refer  to  still  another  instance  ? 

A.  It  was  upon  Mount  Nebo  Moses  died.  It 
is  probable  he  had  gone  to  its  summit  to  wor- 
ship. 

^  Q.  What  reasons  are  assigned  for  the  selec- 
tion of  high  places,  in  the  earlier  worship  ? 

A.  Besides  affording  places  of  retirement, 
these  eminences,  it  was  thought,  by  the  gran- 
deur of  the  prospect,  impressed  the  mind  with 


I.J6 


178  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SPEAKER. 

those  views  of  the  power  of  God  which  tended 
to  humble  the  heart  in  adoration. 

Q.  Were  those  places  ever  used  for  improper 
purposes  ? 

A.  They  were ;  and  became  the  scenes  of 
gross  idolatry. 

Q.  What  inference  may  be  drawn  from  this  ? 

A.  That,  however  proper  it  certainly  is  to 
have  all  external  things  in  conformity  with  the 
great  purposes  of  worship,  yet  any  attempt  to 
excite  to  the  worship  of  God  by  exterior  objects, 
tends  to  corrupt  the  simplicity  of  faith,  and  to 
promote  superstition  and  idolatry. 

3.  Q.  Do  Solomon's  acts  of  worship  in  these 
"high  places"  appear  to  be  approved  ? 

A.  The  language  of  the  narrative  would 
rather  imply  censure.  The  probability  is,  that 
Solomon's  discovery  of  the  inconvenience  of  this 
mode,  and  its  tendency  to  idolatry,  excited  to 
the  purpose  of  erecting  the  temple. 

4.  Q.  Why  did  Solomon  go  to  Gibeon  ? 

A.  The  tabernacle,  and  altar  of  burnt  sacri* 
fice,  made  by  Moses,  were  there,  prior  to  the 
building  of  the  temple. 

Q.  Where  was  Gibeon  ? 

A.  It  was  a  city  reared  upon  a  hill,  about 
forty  furlongs  north  of  Jerusalem. 
Q.  What  is  a  furlong  ? 
A.  The  eighth  of  a  mile. 


BIBLE  CLASS  LESSONS,  179 

Q.  What  then  would  be  the  distance  ? 
A.  Five  miles. 

5.  Q.  How  did  the  Lord  appear  to  Solomon 
at  Gibeon  ? 

A.  In  a,  dream. 

Q.  Was  this  a  supernatural  dream  ? 

A.  It  was.  The  exercises  of  the  day  had 
made  a  strong  impression  upon  his  mind. 
Dreams  usually  result  from  such  causes.  In 
this  instance  the  dream  was  evidently  from  God. 

Q.  Should  such  instances  encourage  us  to 
attach  importance  to  dreams  generally  ? 

A.  They  should-not.  Although  instances  are 
recorded  in  the  Bible  where  they  have  been 
supernatural,  still  we  should  remember  that  a 
supernatural  use  has  been  made  of  almost  every 
natural  means. 

7.  Q.  What  confession  does  Solomon  make 
of  his  inability  ? 

A.  "  I  am  but  a  little  child ;  I  know  not  how 
to  go  out  or  come  in." 

Q.  How  old  was  Solomon  at  this  time  ? 

A.  About  twenty  years  of  age. 
.  Q.  Why  then  did  he  call  himself  « a  little 
child"  ? 

A.  In  view  of  the  responsibility  of  govern- 
ing a  nation  so  numerous  and  great  as  Israel 
was,  he  felt  as  inexperienced  and  inadequate  as 


i 


180  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SPEAKER. 

a  child.    It  was  an  indication  of  self-distrust, 

and  of  his  need  of  divine  direction. 

^  9.  Q.  What  did  Solomon  ask  of  the  Lord  ? 

A.  «  Give  therefore  thy  servant,'''  &c.  [Re* 
peat  the  verse.'] 

10.  Q.  What  effect  had  this  prayer  ? 
A.  It  pleased  the  Lord. 

11.  Q.  What  were  those  things  in  not  asking 
which,  Solomon  pleased  the  Lord  ? 

A.  "And  God  said  unto  him,"  &c.  [Repeat 
the  verse.] 

Q.  What  may  we  learn  from  this  ? 

A.  We  may  learn  that  a  desire  for  long  life 
— great  riches — and  to  see  his  enemies  involved 
in  calamity,  are  too  commonly  the  objects  of 
man's  anxiety. 

12.  13,  14.  Q.  What  did  the  Lord  give  to 
Solomon  ? 

A.  «  Behold  I  have  done,"  &c.  [Repeat  verses 
12,  13,  14.] 

Q.  With  what  great  truth  does  this  corre- 
spond ? 

A.  "  The  fear  of  the  Lord  is  the  beginning 
of  wisdom," 

Q.  Is  this  confirmed  in  the  New  Testament  ? 

A.  Our  Saviour  says,  "  But  seek  ye  first  the 
kingdom  of  God,  and  his  righteousness,  and  all 
these  things  shall  be  added  unto  you." 

I 


BIBLE  CLASS  LESSONS. 


15.  Q.  What  did  Solomon  do  upon  awaking  ? 
A.  "And  he  came  to  Jerusalem/'  &c.  [Re- 
peat.] i 

Q.  What  was  a  "burnt  offering"  ?  " 
^  A.  It  was  a  sacrifice  made  by  fire.  The  vic- 
tim was  to  be  without  blemish,  having  neither  a 
spot,  nor  broken  bone.  The  fire  denoted  the 
justice  and  holiness  of  God ;  by  his  justice  the 
sacrifice  was  consumed,  and  by  his  holiness 
accepted. 

Q.  What  was  a  "  peace-offering"  ? 
A.  It  was  an  offering  of  thanksgiving  for 
peace,  or  for  mercies  received. 

Q.  Why  do  not  Christians  have  such  altars 
and  sacrifices  now  ? 

A.  Because  all  those  services  pointed  to  the 
"Lamb  of  God,  which  taketh  away  the  sin  of  the 
world."  They  being  types  of  the  offering  of 
Christ,  and  all  pointing  to  him,  the  shadow  is 
done  away  by  the  thing  signified. 

Q.  How  then  can  we  offer  sacrifices  to  God  ? 
A.  Though  we  are  not  to  look  for  salvation 
in  dreams,  nor  to  sacrifice  at  a  Jewish  altar,  yet 
by  faith  we  can  be  "  m  Christ  Jesus,  who  of  God 
is  made  unto  us  wisdom,  and  righteousness,  and 
sanctification,  and  redemption." 
Q.  For  what  did  Christ  die  ? 
A.  "  To  be  the  propitiation  for  our  sins." 

16 


182 


SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SI  MAKER. 


Q.  Can  each  one  of  you,  in  turn,  quote  a 

passage  of  Scripture,  proving  that  this  propi- 
tiationlsacrifice,  or  atonement,  was  made  in  the 
one  offering  of  Christ  ? 

[Let  the  first  one  in  the  class  commence,  and,  in  ordei,  let 
each  follow,  viz :] 

1.  Hebrews,  9th  chapter,  11th  and  12th 
verses. — "  But  Christ  being  come  an  high  priest 
of  good  things  to  come,  by  a  greater  and  more 
perfect  tabernacle,  not  made  with  hands,  that  is. 
to  say,  not  of  this  building ;  neither  by  the 
blood  of  goats  and  calves,  but  by  his  own  blood, 
lie  entered  in  once  into  the  holy  place,  having 
obtained  eternal  redemption  for  us." 

2.  Hebrews,  9th  chapter,  13th  and  14th 
verses.— "For  if  the  blood  of  bulls  and  of 
goats,  and  the  ashes  of  an  heifer  sprinkling  the 
unclean,  sanctifieth  to  the  purifying  of  the  flesh : 
how  much  more  shall  the  blood  of  Christ,  who 
through  the  eternal  Spirit  offered  himself  with- 
out spot  to  God,  purge  your  conscience  from 
dead  works  to  serve  the  living  God  ?" 

3.  Hebrews,  9th  chapter,  28th  verse.— 
«  Christ  was  once  offered  to  bear  the  sins  of 
many." 

4.  1st  Cor.  5th  chapter,  7th  verse  "  For 

even  Christ  our  passover  is  sacrificed  for  us." 


BIBLE  CLASS  LESSONS.  188 

5.  Col.  1st  chapter,  19th  and  20th  verses.— 
«  For  it  pleased  the  Father  that  in  him  should 
all  fulness  dwell;  and,  having  made  peace 
through  the  blood  of  his  cross,  by  him  to  recon- 
cile all  things  unto  himself." 

6.  Rom.  5th  chapter,  8th  verse. — «  But  God 
commendeth  his  love  toward  us,  in  that  while 
we  were  yet  sinners  Christ  died  for  us." 

7.  Eph.  5th  chapter,  2d  verse  "  And  walk 

in  love,  as  Christ  also  hath  loved  us,  and  hath 
given  himself  for  us,  an  offering  and  a  sacrifice 
to  God  for  a  sweet-smelling  savour." 

8.  Hebrews,  10th  chapter,  10th  verse.—"  By 
the  which  will  we  are  sanctified,  through  the 
offering  of  the  body  of  Jesus  Christ  once  for 
all." 

9.  Heb.  10th  chapter,  14th  verse  "  For  by 

one  offering  he  hath  perfected  forever  them  that 
are  sanctified." 

10.  Heb.  10th  chapter,  from  19th  to  22d 
verse.—"  Having,  therefore,  brethren,  boldness 
to  enter  into  the  holiest  by  the  blood  of  Jesus, 
by  a  new  and  living  way,  which  he  hath  conse- 
crated for  us,  through  the  vail,  that  is  to  say, 
his  flesh;  and  having  an  high  priest  over  the 
house  of  God ;  Let  us^Iraw  near  with  a  true 
heart,  in  full  assurance  of  faith,  having  our 
hearts  sprinkled  from  an  evil  conscience,  and 
our  bodies  washed  with  pure  water." 


184  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SPEAKER. 

11.  Eom.  3d  chapter,  25th  verse  "Whom 

God  hath  set  forth  to  be  a  propitiation,  through 
faith  in  his  blood." 

12.  Heb.  7th  chapter,  25th  verse. — "Where- 
fore he  is  able  also  to  save  them  to  the  utter- 
most that  come  unto  God  by  him,  seeing  he  ever 
liveth  to  make  intercession  for  them." 


\ 


.J 


HYMNS. 

COMPOSED  EXPRESSLY  FOR  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  ANNIVERSARI 
AND  ADAPTED  TO  VARIOUS  OCCASIONS. 

♦  

HYMNS  FOE,  CHRISTMAS. 

HYMN  I.      C.  M. 

Shall  Bethlehem  forget  her  night, 

Nor  wait  the  ling' ring  dawn, 
Shall  shepherds,  led  by  angel  light, 

Go  seek  the  Holy  One  1 
And  we,  for  whom  the  Just  One  came, 

For  whom  he  left  yon  throne, 
Shall  we  not  dwell  upon  his  name, 

Nor  sing  his  love  our  own  * 

Shalt  thou,  belov'd  Jerusalem, 

Where  stood  His  house  of  prayer, 
Be  fill'd  as  with  seraphic  flame, 

When  children-choirs  are  there  ? 
And  shall  not  we,  His  courts  who  tread, 

The  child's  hosanna  yield, 
Though  on  his  path  no  mantles  spread, 

Nor  gold  our  ofT'rings  gild  1 

No,  Jesus  !  no !  we'll  not  withhold 

The  praise  that  wakes  the  earth ; 
Had  we  ten  thousand  harps  of  gold, 

We'd  chant  the  Saviour's  birth ; 
Thou  art  our  Shepherd — we  thy  lambs, 

Thy  fold,  the  plains  of  heaven, 
And  here  and  there  to  Jesus'  name, 

Our  endless  praise  be  given. 

187 


188 


SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SPEAKER. 


HYMN  II.       C.  M. 

W  hat  though  no  harp  with  golden  string, 
Our  grateful  hymn  shall  swell, 

Yet  here  our  hearts  we  humbly  bring, 
On  Jesus'  love  to  dwell. 

O  could  we  with  seraphic  songs, 

This  holy  temple  fill, 
Then  would  we  use  our  flaming  tongues, 

And  sing  a  Saviour  still. 

High  would  we  praise  "  the  Morning  Star," 
Which  beam'd  on  error's  night, 

That  chas'd  the  gloom  of  sin  afar, 
And  brought  kn mortal  light. 

Wide  o'er  the  earth  we'd  chant  his  name, 
Who  bending  from  his  throne, 

To  seek  e'en  little  children  came, 
And  gather  as  his  own. 

O  may  we,  when  his  flocks  shall  rest, 

Upon  the  heavenly  plain, 
Be  with  our  Shepherd's  smile  caress'd, 

And  sing  his  love  again. 

Yes,  holy  Saviour,  Thee  we'll  own, 

Creation's  pow'rful  God, 
And  sing  before  thy  lofty  throne, 

Redemption  in  thy  blood. 


HYMN  III. 

Tune — Portuguese  Ryrnn* 

Ye  angels  of  heaven,  the  high-born  of  glory 
If  still  to  the  earth  ye  descend  with  delight, 

Again  let  your  anthems  rehearse  the  glad  story, 
Which  early  ye  chanted  o'er  Bethlehem's  night 


HYMNS, 


No  shepherds  forsaking  their  flocks  now  reclining 
With  myrtle  adorning  the  manger,  appear  : 

No  star  from  the  east  in  its  glory  is  shining, 
X  et  children  adore  him— for  Jesus  is  here. 

No  wise  men  are  coming  from  Orient  nations, 
1  o  offer  their  homage  with  incense  and  gold, 

Yet  children  rejoice  in  Messiah's  salvation, 
Salvation  in  Jesus,  by  prophets  foretold. 

The  hope  that  first  dawn'd  on  the  darkness  of  Eden, 
1  hat  broke  in  its  glory  on  Bethlehem's  plains, 

Still  guides  m  its  brightness  the  children  now  speeding, 
I  o  yield  a  full  homage  to  Jesus'  reign. 

Then  angels  respond,  while  we  children  uniting, 
Awaken  with  rapture  our  songs  in  his  praise  ; 

1  he  leader  of  Joseph  his  flock  is  inviting, 
And  higher  we'll  praise  him  in  heaven's  bright  days. 

HYMN  IV. 

TWe — Palestine. 
Let  us  sing  to  the  Lord-lo!  from  yonder  oright  throne, 

He  descended  to  gladden  the  earth ; 
When  no  palace  of  glory  he  claimed  for  his  own, 

But  a  manger  was  his  in  his  birth. 
Shall  the  wise  men,  and  shepherds,  and  angels  adore, 

And  shall  children  their  praises  forbear  ] 
O  no !  we  will  ponder  in  silence  no  more, 

But  will  worship  with  anthems  and  prayer. 

Let  us  sing  to  the  Lord,— who  in  Judah  appear'd, 

Zion  s  King,  meek  and  lowly  he  came, 
When  their  garments  and  palms  on  his  pathway  were  spread 

And  nosannas  were  sung  to  his  name. 
But  more  precious  to  him  were  the  joys  of  the  young, 

And  more  perfect  their  motives  in  praise, 
When  the  Saviour  rejoic'd  in  the  love-glowing  song, 

And  the  temple  was  filled  with  their  lays. 


190  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SPEAKER. 


Let  us  sing  to  the  Lord, — for  our  hearts  are  his  own, 

And  children  the  fold  of  his  care, 
On  Calvary's  cross,  or  eternity's  throne, 

He  is  mov'd  at  the  voice  of  their  prayer. 
Though  no  garments  we  spread — though  no  palm  branches 

Yet  the  heart  is  the  offering  we  give, 
And  we  trust  that  the  Lord,  who  descended  to  save, 

Will  the  anthems  of  children  receive. 


HYMNS  FOH  NEW- YEAH. 

HYMN  V.       6's  &  8's. 

We  bow  before  thy  throne, 

Thou  great  and  pard'ning  God, 
And  sing  thy  love  our  own, 
Through  Jesus's  holy  blood ; 
Within  thy  courts  we  would  appear, 
And  hail  with  joy  the  new-born  year. 

Though  angel-choirs  on  high, 

Their  noblest  anthems  swell — 
We  would  in  praise  draw  nigh, 
And  on  thy  mercy  dwell ; 
That  mercy  sure,  the  child  will  hear, 
Which  led  us  through  the  by-gone  year. 

What  though  the  sun  of  day, 

May  far  diffuse  his  light, 
Each  star,  with  humbler  ray, 
May  speak  Jehovah's  might ; 
So  may  each  child  a  light  appear, 
To  spread  thy  praise  throughout  the  year. 

Thou  hast  upheld  us,  Lord, 

In  love  watch'd  o'er  our  path- 
Each  day  with  mercy  stor'd, 
And  held  us  ba'ck  from  death ; 
In  Jesus'  name,  O  hear  our  prayer-  — 
Forgive  the  sins  of  every  year. 


HYMKS 


When  life  shall  pass  away, 
And  time  with  us  be  o'er, 
O  may  we  in  that  day, 

Thy  pow'r  and  love  adore ; 
The  Father,  Son,  and  Spirit,  there, 
We'll  praise  throughout  the  heavenly  year. 

HYMN  VI.       8's  &  7's. 

Children,  come  with  joy  abounding 
Gladness  wakes  fte  grateful  earth- 
Mercy's  smile  the  day  surrounding, 
When  another  year  hath  birth. 
Wake  the  song  of  every  nation : 
Spread  the  loud  hosanna  far — 
Sing  of  him  who  brought  salvation 
Him  the  bright  and  morning  star 

Once,  when  from  the  throne  of  heaven, 

He  appear'd  in  spirit  mild, 
Not  an  angel's  form  was  given  ; 

Jesus  came  an  humble  child. 

Wake  the  song  of  every  nation,  &c. 

Though  the  crowns  of  earth  were  proffer'd. 
When  the  Lord  appear'd  to  save, 

Richer  crowns  the  children  offer'd, 
In  the  grateful  hymns  they  gave. 

Wake  the  song  of  every  nation,  &(., 

When  around  the  Prince  of  Glory, 
Mothers  with  their  children  came, 

Infant  hearts  inhal'd  the  story- 
Infant  voices  blessed  his  name. 

Wake  the  song  of  every  nation,  &c. 

Humbly  we  would  seek  his  blessing : 
Wait  within  the  house  of  prayer, 

While  the  debt  of  love  increasing,, 
In  our  safety  through  the  year. 

Wake  the  song  of  every  nation,  &c 


SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SPEAKER. 


May  his  presence  still  be  given, 
Through  our  earthly  brief  career, 

Till  we  join  the  song  of  heaven, 
In  a  new  and  happy  year. 

Wake  the  song  of  every  nation.  &c 


HYMN  VII. 

Tutte — Life  on  the  ocean  wave. 

Come  sing,  'tis  a  festal  hour, 

Let  us  meet  with" sacred  cheer; 
Preserved  by  a  Saviour's  power, 

We  sing  to  the  new-born  year. 
The  bird  of  summer  is  fled, 

And  with  it  each  twilight  sigh, 
The  frail  smiling  flower  is  dead, 

But  joys  of  winter  are  nigh. 

Come  sing,  'tis  a  festal  hour,  &©s 


O'er  fields  no  longer  we  roam, 

The  snow  and  the  cold  are  there, 
No  more  mid  the  meadow's  bloom, 

Our  steps  to  the  streamlet  repair. 
In  hymns  of  evening  we  blend, 

And  mingle  in  friendship  pure, 
The  joys  of  summer  may  end, 

But  the  joys  of  home  endure. 
Come  sing,  'tis  a  festal  hour,  &c# 
• 

With  love  our  bosoms  swell, 

To  him  whose  name  we  adore, 
His  mercy  our  songs  shall  tell, 

When  joys  of  summer  are  o'er. 
Tis  ours  his  kindness  to  know 

And  grateful  his  praise  we  sing, 
Here  in  his  temple  we  bow, 

The'  heart  is  the  tribute  we  bring. 
Come  sing,  'tis  a  festal  hour,  &c 


HYMNS. 


HYMN  VIII. 

OK  THE   RESURRECTION  OE  CHRIST. 

Tune —  Watchman, 
Teachers. — Children,  can  you  tell  us  why, 
Angel-light  illum'd  the  sky. 
When  upon  the  fearful  night, 
Mercy  smil'd  in  heaven's  light  1 
Children — Teachers,  yes,  that  glorious  hour, 

Saw  the  Saviour's  wond'rous  power, 
When  he  banish'd  Salem's  gloom, 
Rose  in  triumph  from  the  tomb. 

-Children,  could  you  feel  her  grief, 
When  lone  Mary  sought  relief, 
Would  you  not  with  her  delight 
Still  to  watch  the  tardy  night  1 
-Teachers,  yes; — perfumes  we'd  strew, 
Tears  would  mingle  with  the  dew, 
Gladness  then  should  chase  our  gloom, 
Jesus  rising  from  the  tomb. 

Children,  come — your  Lord  adore, 
High  he  lives,  to  die  no  more, 
Once  he  slept  in  Joseph's  grave, 
Now  he  reigns  a  Prince  to  save. 
Teachers,  yes,  with  glory's  throng, 
We  will  chant  redemption's  song, 
He  hath  driven  death  afar, 
Reigns  he  now  "  the  morning  star." 

— - 

,  HYMNS  FOR  ANY  OCCASION. 
HYMN  IX. 
Tune — Fondly  thine  own. 
Rise— rise— free  from  thy  mourning, 
Light— light— breaks  from  the  sky, 
See— see— bright  the  day  dawning, 
Jesus  is  risen  on  high. 

Rise— rise— rise— rise— Jesus  is  risen,  <fcc 

17 


Teachers.- 


Children.- 


Teachers, — 
Children. — 


SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SPEAKER. 


Come — come — sing  to  the  Saviour, 
Love — love — beams  from  his  eye, 
Haste — haste — share  in  his  favour, 
Worship  the  Saviour  on  high. 

Come — come — come — come — Worship, 

Praise — praise — yield  him  with  gladness, 
Earth — earth — banish  thy  gloom; 
Where — death — where  is  thy  sadness  1 
Jesus  returns  from  the  tomb. 

Praise — praise — praise — praise — Jesus,  &c 

Hail — hail — ■children  adore  thee, 
Here — here — anthems  we  give, 
There — there — dwelling  in  glory, 
Love  in  thy  life  we'll  receive. 

Hail — hail — all  hail — Love  in,  &c. 

HYMN  X. 

Tuxe — The  Might  with  the  Right* 

O  see  on  high,  along  the  sky, 

There  beams  a  morning  star, 
It  bids  at  last,  the  night  be  past, 

"V\  hich  spreads  its  shades  afar. 
Though  long  in  vain,  'neath  error's  reign, 
The  soul  hath  sought  to  break  its  chain 

1  et  the  Prince  of  Peace  shall  reign, 
Wrhen  the  hour  of  his  power,  and  his  truth  shall  comei 

And  the  earth  once  more, 

His  love  shall  adore, 

And  God  dispel  all  gloom. 

AD.  nations  soon,  shall  hail  the  boon, 

And  seek  Messiah's  throne, 
Lov'd  childhood's  prayer,  shall  mingle  there 

When  Christ  shall  reign  alone. 
To  Him,  its  King,  the  earth  shall  sing, 
And  every  heart  its  offering  bring, 

And  the  Princ2  of  Peace  shall  reign, 
When  the  hour  of  his  power,  &c. 


HYMNS. 


195 


Let  those  who  claim,  the  Saviour's  nam-3, 
The  Saviour's  meekness  show, 

And  in  his  bright  and  glorious  light, 
May  all  their  virtues  glow. 

To  those  who  dwell,  in  error's  spell, 

That  Saviour's  birth,  will  gladly  tell, 
And  the  Prince  of  Peace  shall  reign, 
When  the  hour  of  his  power,  &c. 

Then  far  and  wide,  on  every  tide, 

On  every  wind  of  heaven, 
From  rosy  light,  to  deepest  night 

O  let  the  song  be  given, 
Till  sorrows  cease,  and  all  is  peace, 
And  earth  again  hath  holy  bliss, 

And  the  Prince  of  Peace  shall  reign. 
When  the  hour  of  his  power,  &c 

HYMN  XI. 

Nature  with  ten  thousand  smiles, 

Spreads  her  joys  around  us, 
And  with  tender  love  beguiles, 
When  lone  grief  confounds  us. 
When  her  stars  are  glowing, 
Crystal  streamlets  flowing, 
Flowers  their  beauty  showing, 
Then  do  nature's  pleasures  bless, 
And  the  soul  hath  love  and  peace. 

Yet  how  transient  is  the  gleam, 

Nature's  smile  can  give  us, 
Stars  in  clouds  may  hide  their  beam, 
Flowers  may  fade  and  leave  us. 
Grief  the  soul  assailing, 
Wither'd  joys  bewailing, 
All  our  pleasures  failing, 

Other  joys  the  soul  must  bless, 
Nature  hath  no  constant  peace. 


SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SPEAKEB* 


0  there  is  a  world  on  high, 

Where  bright  stars  are  glowing, 
Flowers  there  bloom  that  never  die, 
Fountains  ever  flowing. 

From  that  world  descending, 
Jesus  comes  befriending, 
His  are  joys  unending, 

Yes  his  love  the  soul  can  bless, 
With  religion's  constant  peace. 


HYMN  XII. 

Tr>-E — Music  and  Love, 

Lovely  and  gay,  in  Eden's  day, 

Ere  yet  the  world  knew  sadness, 
Oft  the  angel-throng,  in  a  blissful  song 
Attun'd  their  harps  in  gladness. 

Then  raise  on  high,  through  earth  and  sky 

The  song  which  broke  from  heaven, 
And  loudly  proclaim,  the  holy  name 
By  which  redemption's  given. 

Gladly  and  free,  with  hearts  of  glee, 

We  hail  the  day  appointed, 
In  view  of  His  cross,  our  hearts  rejoice, 

And  praise  the  Lord's  anointed. 

Then  raise  on  high,  &c. 

Calmly  and  blest,  to  promised  rest, 

The  tribes  of  old  He  guided, 
WThen  Israel  stood,  beside  the  flood, 

His  power  the  deep  divided. 

Then  raise  on  high,  &c. 

Darker  and  wide,  sin's  fearful  tide, 

Long  swept  in  wildest  madness, 
When  the  Saviour  came,  like  clouded  flame 

To  'lume  the  night  of  sadness. 

Then  raise  on  high,  &c. 


HYMNS. 


197 


Happy  above,  in  realms  of  love, 

Where  angels  e'er  adore  Him, 
The  crown  we  receive — that  crown  we'll  give, 

And  bow  in  love  before  Him. 

Then  raise  on  high,  &c. 

HYMN  XIII. 

Tune — Flow  gently  sweet  A/ton, 
What  though  the  pure  Christian  on  earth  ever  treads, 
In  paths  where  life's  pleasures  so  often  must  fade, 
There  is  a  true  Shepherd,  with  friendship  e'er  pure, 
Whose  smile  in  each  trial  will  steadfast  endure. 
We  cling  to  that  Saviour,  upheld  by  his  power, 
And  trust  to  his  mercy  in  each  fearful  hour  : 
He  dwells  in  yon  heaven,  with  angels  on  high, 
Where  anthems  of  triumph  are  heard  in  the  sky. 

In  seasons  of  darkness  when  night  spreads  around, 
And  the  moans  of  the  tempest  in  fearfulness  sound 
As  an  infant  whose  dreams  for  awhile  may  alarm, 
Awakes  to  repose  on  a  fond  mother's  arm, 
So  we  will  awake  when  this  dream  flies  away, 
And  life  shall  be  lost  in  eternity's  day, 
Where  night  never  comes  in  the  pure  world  on  high, 
And  anthems  of  triumph  are  heard  in  the  sky. 

How  bright  is  that  world  where  the  saints  e'er  abide, 
Where  joys  from  pure  fountains  in  fulness  e'er  glide, 
Where  the  air  is  all  love,  and  the  flowers  that  bloom, 
Ever  glow  on  the  paths  where  the  angels  oft  come. 
Each  scene,  O  how  lovely  !  all  around  the  bright  throne, 
Where  Jesus  resides  in  the  world  all  his  own, 
And  the  lov'd  harps  of  angels  are  sounding  on  high, 
Where  anthems  of  triumph  are  heard  in  the  sky. 

HYMN  XIV. 

Tune — Auld  Lang  Syne, 
When  childhood's  blissful  hours  have  fled, 

Mid  future  scenes  of  care, 
Thy  joys  from  memory  ne'er  shall  fade, 

Sweet  Sabbath  school  so  dear. 

17* 


198 


SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SPEAKER. 


Sweet  Sabbath  School,  place  dear  to  me, 
Where  e'er  through  life  I  roam, 

My  heart  will  often  turn  to  thee, 
My  childhood's  Sabbath  home. 

Within  thy  courts  of  Him  I've  heard 

Whose  birth  the  angels  sung, 
When  o'er  the  Shepherds  fill'd  with  fear, 

The  star  of  glory  hung. 

Sweet  Sabbath  School,  &c. 

There  I  have  learn'd  man's  early  loss 

Of  Eden  and  of  God, 
There  faith  hath  seen  Salvation's  cross, 

Where  rieher  mercy  glow'd. 

Sweet  Sabbath  School,  &c. 

O  holy  place,  where  first  we  shed, 

Lov'd  childhood's  early  tear, 
Where  youthful  steps  are  taught  to  tread, 

In  paths  of  peace  and  prayer. 
Sweet  Sabbath  School,  &c. 

When  all  our  wanderings  here  shall  cease, 

And  cares  of  life  shall  end, 
In  God's  eternal  Sabbath  place, 

May  we  our  anthems  blend. 

Sweet  Sabbath  School,  &C 


HYMNS  FOR  INFANT  CLASSES 

HYMN  XV. 

Ttjxe — Blue-eyed  Mary, 

Come  join  the  Infant  school  with  me, 
True  pleasures  there  you'll  find ; 

And  pictures  round  the  room  you'll  see. 
To  interest  the  mind, 


HYMNS. 


190 


The  noble  horse  that  prances  gay, 

The  lion,  strong  and  bold  : 
The  little  lamb  that  loves  to  play, 

Which  e'en  a  child  may  hold. 

We  sing  of  Him  who  made  the  sun, 
And  moon  and  stars  so  high, 

And  all  that  fly — or  swim — or  run, — 
Who  made  the  earth  and  sky. 

Come,  then,  and  join  our  infant  band, 
Where  pleasures  hold  control, 

You'll  sing  and  clap  your  little  hands,— 
Come,  join  our  infant  school. 

HYMN  XVI. 

Tune — The  Troubadour* 
Hark  !  how  the  angels  sing, 

Anthems  from  heaven, 
Tidings  of  joy  they  bring, 

Jesus  is  given ; 
He  comes  the  world  to  own, 

Earth  hail  thy  king, 
Children  come,  seek  his  throne, 

Your  praises  brings 

O  lovely  Bethlehem, 

Had  we  been  there, 
Guarding  our  tender  lambs 

With  fondest  care ; 
We  with  the  shepherd  throng 

Flowrets  would  bear, 
With  the  rose  and  the  song, 

Glad'ning  the  air. 

Still  in  the  temple  here 

He  deigns  to  dwell, 
Deeming  sweet  childhood's  prayaf 

Richest  perfume. 


SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SPEAKER, 


No  flowrets  he'll  receive, 

Strew'd  at  his  feet, 
While  the  song  childhood  givea, 

To  him  is  sweet. 

O  may  these  little  ones, 

In  yonder  heaven, 
Worship  before  the  throne, 

Where  joy  is  given : 
Where  flowers  that  never  die, 

Lov'd  angefs  bring, 
In  the  world  o'er  the  sky, 

With  them  we'll  sing. 

HYMN  XVII. 

Tujve — Come  to  the  sun-set  tree* 

Come  to  the  Infant  school, 

The  child's  delightful  home, 
Where  hearts  with  joy  are  full, 

When  the  blessed  Sabbath's  come, 
Sweet  are  the  joys  we  share, 

To  hear  of  his  pure  love, 
Wlio  makes  the  young  his  care, 

And  guides  to  scenes  abovs. 
Come,  Qpme,  &c. 

Bright  is  the  early  dawn, 

Of  the  day  we  love  the  best, 
We  hail  its  lovely  sun, 

As  it  brings  the  day  of  rest. 
When  the  shades  of  evening  spread, 

Peace  guards  our  little  hearts, 
We  feel  no  conscious  dread, 

As  the  Sabbath  day  departs. 
Come,  come,  &c. 

Sing  to  the  Saviour  here, 
Whom  angels  sing  on  high, 

We  feel  his  mercy  near, 

Though  his  throne  is  in  tfce  sky. 


HYMNS 


Close  by  his  side  we  cling, 

And  know  his  care  is  given, 
His  praise,  O  !  may  we  sing, 

With  angel  choirs  in  heaven 
Come,  come,  &c. 

HYMN  XVIII, 

Tujte    The  Rose  that  all  are  praising. 
Let  others  sing  of  gladness, 

That  cheers  the  winter  hours> 
To  me  there  is  a  sadness 

In  the  absence  of  the  flowers. 
O  give  to  me  the  joys  of  May, 
When  birds  begin'  their  songs  and  play ; 
O  give  me  lovely  May,  &c. 

Let  others  pine  for  glory, 

Such  as  the  world  can  give ; 
"Tis  all  a  dream  or  story, 
Which  but  a  day  can  live : 

Give  me  the  hour  of  harmless  play, 
When  children  crown  their  Queen  of  May 
O  give  me  lovely  May,  &c  ' 

The  wind  so  cold  and  dreary, 

Then  feels  the  sun's  warm  ray, 
And  nature  lone  and  dreary, 
Smiles  in  the  light  of  May  ; 

Then  children  seek  the  flowery  way, 
And  crown  with  wreaths  their  Queen  of  Mai 
O  give  me  lovely  May,  &c. 

Then  sing— for  Summer's  coming, 

With  lovely  flower  and  bird ; 
Then  through  the  valley  blooming, 
Shall  joyous  songs  be  heard ; 
Then  let  the  winter  speed  away, 
We'll  go  to  crown  the  Queen  of  May; 
O  give  me  lovely  May,  &c 


202 


SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SPEAKER. 


HYMN  XIX. 

Tune — The  Rose  of  Allandale. 

The  jovs  that  I  have  known  of  earth, 

However  young  my  heart, 
Whale  'er  their  smiles,  whate  'er  their  worth, 

Have  bloom'd  but  to  depart ; 
But  there 's  a  joy  that  comes  from  high, 

Whose  smile  shall  never  cease, 
The  joy  that  fades  not  with  a  sigh, 

The  heavenly  hope  of  peace. 

The  heavenly  hope  of  peace,  &c 

The  bird  that  sings  its  meadow  song, 

In  Flora's  lovely  bower, 
Or  flies  amid  the  forest  throng, 

How  brief  its  sunny  hour ; 
The  forest  beauties  all  decay, 

The  songs  of  birds  must  cease, 
But  there 's  a  joy  ne'er  fades  away, 

The  heavenly  hope  of  peace. 

The  heavenly  hope  of  peace,  &c 

O  !  may  my  heart  by  wisdom  led, 

Ne'er  seek  undue  delight, 
In  joys  that  brighten  but  to  fade, 

Like  meteors  of  the  night; 
But  to  my  young  and  gentle  heart, 

One  joy  I  '11  early  press, 
Whose  smiles  in  darkness  ne'er  depart 

The  heavenly  hope  of  peace. 

The  heavenly  hope  of  peace,  &c 


HYMN  XX. 


Tune — The  Ingle  Side. 

Hearts  may  delight  in  error's  way, 
And  say  the  scenes  are  fair, 

And  seek  to  spend  the  holy  day, 
Forgetful  e'er  of  prayer ; 


HYMNS 


But  when  the  vale  of  death  they  tread, 
No  flower  the  eye  shall  see, — 

A  place  there  is  where  joy  is  shed, 
The  place  of  prayer  for  me. 

On  other  days  the  fields  I  '11  view, 

And  cull  the  blossoms  gay, 
But  may  my  heart  in  virtue  true, 

Revere  the  Sabbath  day  ; 
From  worldly  pleasures,  worldly  cares, 

From  every  sin  I  '11  flee ; 
And  haste  the  Saviour's  love  to  share 

The  place  of  prayer  for  me. 

How  calm  the  smile  that  heaven  gives 

To  cheer  adoring  hearts, 
In  future  years  that  smile  revives, 

When  other  joy  departs  ; 
No  sigh  disturbs  the  tranquil  breast, 

From  anguish  ever  free, 
Then  give,  upon  each  day  of  rest, 

The  place  of  prayer  to  me. 

A  world  there  is  where  God  abides, 

A  lovely  Sabbath-place, 
A  world  where  Jesus  e'er  resides, 

And  saints  behold  his  face  ; 
'Tis  found  by  those  who  love  to  pray, 

Its  glories  I  would  see, 
Then  give,  upon  each  Sabbath  day, 

The  place  of  prayer  to  me. 

HYMN  XXI. 

Tis  sweet,  in  hours  of  childhood, 

To  range  the  flowery  lawn, 
To  seek  the  shady  wildwood, 

At  twilight  or  at  dawn  : 
More  precious  far  the  blessings, 

That  childhood  finds  in  prayer. 
When  the  day  away  is  passing, 

And  we  to  rest  repair. 


204 


SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SPEAKER, 


When  life's  brief,  sunny  pleasures, 

With  years  have  fled  away, 
And  much  belov'd  as  treasures, 

Like  dreams  have  met  decay : 
One  pleasure  still  attending, 

Gives  hope  most  bright  and  fair, 
In  life,  in  death,  befriending — - 

'Tis  childhood's  love  of  prayer. 


I 


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